Jose Alvarado poured in 25 points and Georgia Tech posted a 96-83 victory against host North Carolina, which couldn't overcome missing its first 15 shots Saturday night at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Moses Wright had 14 of his 22 points in the first half, while James Banks III finished with 12 points and Bubba Parham tallied 11 points for the Yellow Jackets (7-7, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference).

Georgia Tech led 47-27 at halftime, marking North Carolina's largest halftime deficit in the history of the Smith Center.

North Carolina's 9-1 run less than two minutes into the second half gave the Tar Heels (8-6, 1-2) hope. They were within 52-43 with more than 16 minutes to go.

The comeback included Brandon Robinson's banked-in 3-pointer that closed the gap to 56-46 with more than 14 minutes left.

But Georgia Tech, which defeated North Carolina for only the second time in the last 11 meetings, was relentless. When the Tar Heels closed to with 84-74, Banks responded with a three-point play at the 3:55 mark.

Earlier, the Tar Heels trailed 27-4. Eleven North Carolina players were used and the Tar Heels were still without a basket from the field.

With the score at 30-6, Garrison Brooks' basket from the low post with 6:49 remaining in the half was the first North Carolina field goal.

Brooks, a junior forward, provided a career-high 35 points, but he fouled out with 2:21 remaining.

Robinson added 12 points and Justin Pierce had 11 points.

The Tar Heels largely tried to get back into the game by getting into the lane. They attempted only 14 3-point shots, though they were 23-for-27 on free throws.

North Carolina ended up 27-for-63 from the field for 42.9 percent.

North Carolina lost for the third time in its last four home games.

The outcome prevented North Carolina coach Roy Williams from passing Dean Smith on the Division I all-time victory list. Both have 879.

--Field Level Media