CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Justin Jackson scored 16 points and No. 15 North Carolina held on for a sloppy 68-53 win over Virginia Tech on Sunday night.
Brice Johnson added 12 points and 11 rebounds to help the Tar Heels (14-4, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) win their fourth straight.
North Carolina shot 44 percent and overcame 17 turnovers - its most in nearly a month - by forcing Virginia Tech into 14.
The Tar Heels held the Hokies scoreless for nearly 7 minutes and outrebounded them 49-22, allowing them just four on the offensive glass.
Adam Smith had 11 points to lead Virginia Tech (8-9, 0-4), which cut an 18-point deficit to eight and closed to 61-53 on Smith's 3-pointer with just over 2 minutes left.
Theo Pinson countered with a dunk, and J.P. Tokoto, Brice Johnson and Nate Britt combined to hit 5 of 6 free throws in the final minute.
No. 23 NORTHERN IOWA 60, MISSOURI STATE 46
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) - Seth Tuttle scored 22 points with 10 rebounds and Northern Iowa cruised past Missouri State for its fifth straight win.
Deon Mitchell had 11 points for the Panthers (16-2, 5-1 MVC), who moved into a tie for second place in the Valley with Indiana State with the win.
Northern Iowa made quick work of the overmatched Bears (8-10, 2-4), who only dressed nine players. The Panthers pushed a 12-point halftime lead to 47-30 midway through the second half and won by double digits for the fourth consecutive game.
Austin Ruder had 13 points for Missouri State, which played its second game without suspended star Marcus Marshall.