Paige leads Tar Heels to overtime win

With less than 40 seconds on the clock in regulation and the chance to snatch a lead against Virginia Tech that had eluded North Carolina most of the afternoon, Marcus Paige thought he saw his opportunity to take it once and for all. So he drove to the basket.

But before Paige could get his shot off, the ball flew right out of his hands and into those of Hokie guard Marquis Rankin.

Only 31 seconds and a last-minute shot stood between Virginia Tech and its first victory in the Smith Center since 2007. And with Erick Green, the NCAA’s leading scorer, on the court, everybody knew who the ball was going to for the game-winning buzzer beater attempt.

“I was praying that he’d miss it,” Paige said after UNC’s 72-60 overtime win. “That would have been devastating to me.”

With Reggie Bullock guarding him, Green’s shot didn’t go in, and the teams were tied at 55 at the end of regulation. Paige soon made up for his late-game blunder with eight points in overtime — more than he’s had in each of the last five games — and the Tar Heels walked out of the Smith Center with their fifth conference victory of the season.

Paige’s No. 5 UNC jersey, the same number worn by Kendall Marshall last season, is a tangible reminder of the big shoes he has to fill. Before Saturday, Paige averaged fewer than five assists and seven points per game.

Paige finished 6-for-14, 4-for-10 from long-range. Coach Roy Williams was finally able to prove what he’s been preaching all season.

“I’ve said all along he’s going to be a really good shooter, he just hadn’t done it yet,” Williams said. “In overtime, he was the most important player on the court for us.”

About six minutes into the game, Paige hit a three-pointer for UNC’s second basket of the afternoon, helping the Tar Heels dig their way out of a 12-0 start by the Hokies. The freshman point guard sunk two more deep balls in regulation.

Two minutes into overtime, UNC leading by one, Paige hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game to give UNC its biggest lead of the game to that point. It was a lead it would never relinquish.

UNC played without go-to 3-point shooter P.J. Hairston, who was still recovering from a concussion he sustained in Tuesday’s 82-70 win against Boston College. And Bullock, the best shooter on the team, had just 11 points against the Hokies, four of which came from the free throw line.

But Bullock wasn’t at all disappointed in his uncharacteristic lack of offensive presence Saturday. He was happy to let Paige take over for an afternoon.

“He was the hot man during the overtime,” Bullock said. “There were some shots that I could have took, but he was hitting. So I tried to find him.”

After the game, players said they felt fortunate to scrape by with a win despite the rocky start. Williams said he felt lucky to make it to overtime in the first place. But Paige was grateful for more than just another addition to the win column.

Because, finally, he got to show everyone else just what he’s always known he could do.

“Coach says, and I always say, that I’m a good shooter. But until they actually start going in in games, you can say whatever you want,” Paige said. “To see a couple go down was refreshing.”

Contact the desk editor at sports@dailytarheel.com.