CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Tyrese Rice came through with another big game against North Carolina, one that ended all the talk of a perfect season for the top-ranked Tar Heels.
Rice scored 25 points and Rakim Sanders added 22 to help Boston College stun North Carolina 85-78 on Sunday, likely ending the Tar Heels’ run atop the early-season polls with a surprisingly one-sided road victory.
Reggie Jackson, a freshman from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, had 17 points — including seven in the decisive second-half run — for the Eagles (13-2, 1-0), who led by six points at halftime and pushed the lead to as many as 15 before weathering a frantic rally in an Atlantic Coast Conference opener.
It started with Rice, who scored 46 points in last year’s late-season meeting and was again a matchup problem at the point for North Carolina (13-1, 0-1) all game. But the Eagles had a lot more, namely a physical defense and an unwavering focus.
The Eagles were picked in the preseason to finish 11th in the 12-team ACC.
“We just met the challenge,” Rice said. “I felt like they hadn’t been challenged all year.”
