NEW YORK (AP) — There was so much to talk about after No. 6 North Carolina held on for 77-73 victory over No. 15 Ohio State in the 2K Sports Classic semifinals Thursday night.



There was the Tar Heels' big early lead that dwindled to two points in the final minute, something that can happen even to a sixth-ranked team early in the season. There was the exceptional defensive job by Marcus Ginyard on Ohio State's Evan Turner, something that has become common for a player considered one of the top stoppers in the country. There was coach Roy Williams' halftime rant directed at Ginyard, something that never happens.



"I chewed his rear end out probably the hardest I've ever got on him," Williams said of the fifth-year senior. "If I'm going to chew him out, it scares the dickens out of the rest of the team. He's one of my pets."



The one-way halftime discussion worked as North Carolina was in control until the final minut.