Armando Bacot had 25 points and 12 rebounds as No. 7 North Carolina used relentless offense and rebounding to defeat visiting Virginia Tech 96-81 on Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill, N.C.
RJ Davis added 20 points, Cormac Ryan had 16, and Harrison Ingram posted 12 points and 17 rebounds for the Tar Heels (20-6, 12-3 ACC), who reached the 20-win mark for the 64th time in program history.
North Carolina had lost three of its previous five games but avoided its first two-game skid since December.
MJ Collins led Virginia Tech (14-11, 6-8) with 18 points, Mylyjael Poteat had 15 off the bench, former Tar Heel Tyler Nickel produced 14 points, and Lynn Kidd and Hunter Cattoor each had 11. Poteat reached a double-figure total for only the third time this season — all in the past six games.
Davis drained a 3 as the shot clock was about to expire early in the second half and North Carolina was up 55-41.
But the Hokies closed within 57-50 before Bacot had the next two baskets.
Virginia Tech threatened to make a charge with about six minutes to go, but Davis scored on his own putback and a 3-pointer to stretch the gap to 84-72.