Nov. 27, 1997

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Antawn Jamison scored 15 of his 23 points in the first half as third-ranked North Carolina raced to a 21-point halftime lead and humiliated number six UCLA, 109-68, in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout at Anchorage.

Vince Carter added 22 points for North Carolina (4-0), which will face Seton Hall in Friday's semifinals. Jamison led the Tar Heels with 11 rebounds and Shammond Williams dished out 10 assists.

The Bruins (0-1) suffered the worst season-opening loss in school history. Ironically, their previous worst defeat in a season opener also came to North Carolina, 107-70, in 1985. UCLA's worst loss ever was a 109-61 loss to Stanford last season. The school record for most points allowed came in a 116-110 double-overtime setback to Stanford in 1987.

Freshman Baron Davis had 13 points to lead the Bruins, who lost their season opener for the third straight season. J.R. Henderson had 12 while Toby Bailey added 10.

UCLA was playing without two of its starters -- forward Kris Johnson and center Jelani McCoy -- neither of which made the trip to Anchorage. Both were suspended by the school in October for violating undisclosed rules. Johnson has been partially reinstated and is allowed to practice with the team, but cannot play.

Makhtar Ndiaye had a career-high 12 points for North Carolina, which has won the last four meetings with UCLA to take a 5-2 lead in the series. The Tar Heels recorded an 88-81 victory in the second round of the 1989 NCAA Tournament in the last game between two of college basketball's finest programs.

The schools have combined for 3,081 victories and 14 NCAA Tournament titles. North Carolina is second all-time with 1,678 victories, while UCLA is 12th at 1,403.

The Tar Heels shot 63 percent (42-of-67) from the field, including 4-of-9 from three-point range, and forced 15 UCLA turnovers. The Bruins connected on just 41 percent (26-of-64) of their field goals.

North Carolina, which is playing for the third time in Alaska, has never lost a game in this tournament (7-0). All seven participating teams, with the exception of Alaska-Anchorage, are previous champions.