ACC SUNDAY NIGHT BASKETBALL

DARION ATKINS & JAMES MICHAEL McADOO
(Robert Willet/Raleigh News & Observer)

VIRGINIA 61, NORTH CAROLINA 52 - Joe Harris scored 19 points and sparked a 15-2 second-half run and Virginia rallied to beat North Carolina in the ACC opener for both schools on Sunday night.

Harris' 3-pointer sparked the game-changing burst for Virginia (11-3, 1-0), which had just gone behind 34-26 after North Carolina opened the half on a 9-2 run.

Reggie Bullock scored 22 points for the Tar Heels (10-4, 0-1), who lost for the first time in five visits to John Paul Jones Arena.

Bullock's final basket came with 3:11 to play, pulling the Tar Heels within 51-50, but Harris scored on a short bank, Paul Jesperson made a driving layup and Virginia hit 6 of 8 free throws before P.J. Hairston scored again for North Carolina, making a free throw with 20 seconds left.

Recap.

James Michael McAdoo (43) battles for an offensive rebound with Virginia's Darion Atkins (32)