Freshman point guard Cole Anthony scored 34 points, setting a record for a freshman in a North Carolina debut, and the No. 9 Tar Heels pulled away from Notre Dame for a 76-65 victory Wednesday night in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The game was the season opener and Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.

Anthony scored 23 points in the second half, and there was a time when it looked as if he might score more after halftime than the entire Notre Dame team.

The Tar Heels put together a solid stretch midway through the second half with perimeter shooting and transition baskets after the Irish led 46-43.

Anthony made the tying 3-pointer and then a go-ahead jumper. He finished 12-for-24 from the field, including 6-for-11 on 3-point attempts.

Anthony also led the Tar Heels with 11 rebounds. The last North Carolina freshman with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds was Tyler Hansbrough in 2006.

Anthony sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around an Andrew Platek trey as the Tar Heels stretched their lead to 61-50.

The previous freshman debut scoring school record was 28 points by Rashad McCants in 2002.

Garrison Brooks tallied 10 points and Platek finished with eight for the Tar Heels, who committed 18 turnovers.

Prentiss Hubb scored 22 points for Notre Dame, while T.J. Gibbs poured in 19 points and John Mooney had 10.

Notre Dame, using a starting lineup with four seniors, was unsettled on offense during various stretches.

Notre Dame trailed most of the first half but led 31-30 at the break. The Irish overcame 11-for-34 shooting before the break.

The Tar Heels led 13-6 more than eight minutes into the game. Hubb hit a 3-pointer for Notre Dame's first lead at 25-23. He drained another trey on the next possession.

It was the 700th ACC regular-season victory for North Carolina, the most in league history. The Tar Heels played an ACC game in an opening game for the first time since the 1967-68 season.

North Carolina has defeated Notre Dame in the past seven meetings.

--Field Level Media