Final Score: (1) North Carolina 84, Nevada 61

Reno, NV (Sports Network) - Tyler Hansbrough scored 22 points to lead No. 1 North Carolina past Nevada, 84-61, at Lawlor Events Center.

Wayne Ellington added 15 points for the Tar Heels (13-0), who have won each of their games by at least 15 points. Ty Lawson chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds.

Luke Babbitt tallied 22 points and seven boards for the Wolf Pack (7-6), who have lost two of three. Armon Johnson ended with 15 points and Malik Cooke added 13 in defeat.

Nevada played its heavily favored counterparts closely in the first half, even taking a 14-12 lead on a Johnson jumper.

"I think they came out pretty strong," said Hansbrough. "Obviously I didn't think overall we played a good game, but we're going to practice and get better rebounding the ball and get some better passing."

However, Hansbrough's two free throws sparked an 18-5 run that gave the Tar Heels a 30-19 lead late in the first half.

UNC kept pushing and Ellington's three-pointer gave the visitors a 41-27 lead heading into the intermission.

Lawson's layup made it 62-41 near the midway point of the second half.

The Tar Heels led by as many as 23 points a few times down the stretch and were never seriously threatened again.

"They pressured us good," said Johnson. "They had us running our offense pretty far out. They were tough all night."

Game Notes

The Tar Heels have also won all three previous meetings with Nevada, including a 106-70 romp over the Wolf Pack a year ago...UNC will play Boston College on Sunday. Nevada will play Idaho on Saturday.

01/01 01:34:50 ET