UNC Takes Care Of Seminoles

No. 11 North Carolina didn't let indoor winter weather bother it too much Wednesday night.

Ademola Okulaja had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Brendan Haywood added 15 points and 11 rebounds in the Tar Heels' 72-54 victory over Florida State in an unheated arena.

"It feels good in here, we should've played in here," North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge joked afterward in a heated meeting room several hundred feet from the playing surface. "I'm proud of our team ... the way the team hung in there under adverse conditions."

Because of the chilly surroundings, game conditions were remindful of an outdoor pickup game. Fans attending the game bundled up in sweaters and jackets as the courtside temperature was just 55 degrees at tip-off with the Leon County Civic Center open in areas because of construction.

Norht Carolina also had to cancel its pregame shootaround as the playing surface was covered with sawdust from the ongoing construction work.

But none of the distractions bothered Okulaja, who scored 15 points in the second half to key North Carolina's comeback.

"It was like running in a cold wind out there," Okulaja said. "It was like playing outside. (Ed) Cota had turnovers because the ball didn't come up."

North Carolina (14-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) warmed up early in the second half, outscoring the Seminoles 48-23 over the final 23 minutes of the game.

Meanwhile, Florida State (7-6, 1-1) was as frigid as the playing conditions in the second half.

"I don't know that I've ever played in a place as cool," Florida State coach Steve Robinson said.

Ron Hale led Florida State with 17 points, but was held to just five in the second alf and was the only Seminole in double figures.

Hale had seven points in a 12-0 run that gave the Seminoles a 31-24 lead shortly before halftime.

Florida State shot just 36.5 percent, including 7-of-31 from 3-point range, and was outrebounded 46-21. The Tar Heels made 21-of-31 free throws while Florida State had just two attempts all night, making one.

"When we don't finish it off, then they take it down and shoot until they score," Robinson said.

"We lived and died by the jump shots," he added. "We got impatient. We didn't take good shots. We must understand it's a 40-minute game."

North Carolina has won four straight games and 13 of the last 15 against Florida State. The Tar Heels handed Florida State its most lopsided loss in school history a year ago, 103-55, in Chapel Hill.

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