Feb. 10, 2001

Box Score

By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - It's Matt Doherty and not Dean Smith on the North Carolina bench. But it's still team before individual for the streaking Tar Heels.

Top-ranked North Carolina got career highs of 27 points from Jason Capel and 18 from Julius Peppers as the Tar Heels broke open a close game in the second half Saturday en route to a 96-82 victory over the reeling Terrapins.

"If we win everybody is going to get their credit, everybody is going to get their recognition," Capel said. "When you have a lot of guys that are good players playing together and playing as a team, good things are going to happen."

The Tar Heels (21-2, 11-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their 18th straight - the nation's longest streak and the program's best since starting 21-0 in 1985-86.

Joseph Forte, who came in averaging 25.5 points in his last six games, added 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Tar Heels improved to 138-23 all-time as a No. 1 team.

But the second-leading scorer in the ACC wasn't the main offensive threat in this one as Capel, Peppers and Max Owens - all role players - combined to go 20-for-27 from the field.

"This is not a one-man show," Forte said. "Sometimes people forget that. I receive a lot of attention, but I play with some great players. That's why we're able to win."

North Carolina shot a season-high 58 percent, was 7-for-10 from 3-point range and 19-for-20 from the foul line.

Maryland (15-8, 6-5) has lost four of five and fell to 1-6 against ranked teams. The Terrapins also lost the regular-season series to the Tar Heels for the first time since 1993-94.

Coach Gary Williams said his team hasn't been the same since blowing a 10-point lead in the final minute against No. 3 Duke at home on Jan. 27.

"Part of the great thing about being a basketball player is you go through situations like that and it makes you stronger for the rest of your life," Williams said. "It's about time we get off of that and quit feeling sorry for ourselves and just come out and play."

Lonny Baxter led Maryland with 19 points and eight rebounds.

North Carolina led 56-53 with 14:50 left before going on a 10-3 run to grab its first double-digit lead of the game. Peppers hit an 8-footer, Capel had a fast-break dunk and backup point guard Adam Boone made a shot in the lane just before the shot clock expired for a 66-55 lead.

Less than three minutes later, Owens, who doesn't get much playing time behind Forte, hit two 3-pointers in a span of 23 seconds, putting the Tar Heels up by 15 with 7:41 remaining.

Maryland closed within nine twice late, but Capel and Forte made consecutive layups to halt the rallies.

"When you get behind a team like Carolina it's tough to play against them because you are not going to get a lot of easy looks because of their size inside," Williams said. "Even if you beat their perimeter people you have to go over somebody who is pretty big."

Capel's previous high was 23 against UNLV in December 1999. He was 10-for-14 from the field.

Peppers, a 6-foot-6, 270-pounder who led the nation in quarterback sacks as a defensive end on the football team, made the most of his start in place of injured Kris Lang.

He powered inside to make 7-of-10 shots. His previous high was 14 against Georgia Tech a week ago.

"I've seen him do this stuff since he was 16," Capel said of Peppers. "There aren't many people in this world blessed with that kind of talent. I say he could play any sport and be good at it."

During the first half, each coach was called for a technical foul in the opening 9 1/2 minutes and a mascot was thrown out at halftime after pretending to kick one of the officials.

"We were walking off the floor and when I turned around the mascot was acting like he was kicking my partner in the rear end," said referee Duke Edsall. "That is not what (mascots) are here for. I then asked for him to be removed."

The Terrapins fell behind by eight early, but went on a 10-2 run after the technical against Williams and led most of the half as the Tar Heels turned it over nine times.

Capel and Peppers kept North Carolina close, combining for 25 points and six rebounds in the opening 20 minutes as North Carolina shot 59 percent.

Capel scored 11 points over the final 5:19 of the half and Brendan Haywood's layup seven seconds before the break gave the Tar Heels a 43-42 lead.