LAS VEGAS -- North Carolina's first five games came with few major challenges, few moments that forced the Tar Heels to respond after an opponent imposed its will. Those moments came Saturday night, though, and came often against Nevada-Las Vegas in the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational.
And when it came time for top-ranked North Carolina to respond, it didn't - or couldn't. The Runnin' Rebels scored the first 14 points of the second half and the Tar Heels never recovered during a 90-80 defeat, their first of the season.
The Tar Heels masked their flaws during five consecutive victories to start the season - games they won, all of them, by double digits. But problems that seemed small before played a large role in Saturday's defeat.
North Carolina's defense, which was so dominant at times Friday night during a 25-point victory against South Carolina, failed Saturday. It failed the Tar Heels (5-1) especially on the outside, where Nevada-Las Vegas (7-0) time and again used 3-pointers to quell efforts to rally.
The dagger might have come with 2 minutes, 41 seconds to play, with North Carolina down nine. The Tar Heels still had hope then, but they left open Chace Stanback, a 6-foot-8 senior who already had made three 3s - two coming in the second half.
Stanback made his fourth at that moment and put the Rebels ahead 82-70. The Tar Heels managed to cut the deficit to seven with about 30 seconds to play but came no closer.
Stanback led Nevada-Las Vegas with 28 points. Oscar Bellfield added 13.
Harrison Barnes, who entered the game as North Carolina's leading scorer, never did get going. He made just six of his 16 attempts from the field. P.J. Hairston, a reserve, led North Carolina with 15 points and Henson, who struggled from the field, had 11.
