Tar Heels dunk Phoenix early

CHAPEL HILL -- With the new year and conference play fast approaching, North Carolina's players seem resolute about getting better.

Whether the opponent is major-conference or mid-major, the Tar Heels lately have been exhibiting the fire that Final Four candidates are known for.

No. 5 North Carolina cruised past Elon 100-62 on Thursday night, taking advantage of a 23-0 scoring run in the first half to win its 25th consecutive game in the Smith Center.

Though the outcome was never in doubt, center Tyler Zeller said it was a chance to get better.

"We know we have to be more intense, more focused," Zeller said. "You can't just try to show up on the nights you play big teams."

The starters got to rest plenty - none played more than Dexter Strickland's 25 minutes - but they got after the Phoenix when they were on the court. North Carolina was taller at every position but also relentless on the glass, with a 64-35 rebounding edge.

"I thought we were really good defensively," coach Roy Williams said. "We were attentive. We were really good on the backboards."

Zeller led the inside dominance with 19 points and 13 rebounds. John Henson had 16 points and 11 rebounds, all the boards coming in the first half. A problem to begin the season - Michigan State, for example, grabbed 24 offensive boards in the Nov. 11 opener - has become a strength of late for the Tar Heels.

In the past three games, North Carolina (12-2) has grabbed 185 rebounds combined against Nicholls State, Texas and Elon.

"If we can do that, I think the sky's the limit for this team," point guard Kendall Marshall said.

The Tar Heels raced out to their biggest halftime margin of the season, 53-19, getting little resistance from the Phoenix, coached by former Davidson assistant Matt Matheny.

"I haven't seen all the top teams," Matheny said. "But they have to be, arguably, the best team in the country."

Elon (7-5) trailed just 18-14 before North Carolina got rolling. During the 23-0 run, the longest by the Tar Heels since 25 consecutive points against N.C. State four seasons ago, the Phoenix missed 14 shots.

Twelve of the Tar Heels' first 13 field goals were dunks, layups or short putbacks.

Strickland started the North Carolina scoring run with a dunk at 10:47. Marshall finished it with a banked-in 3-pointer about 31/2 minutes before halftime.

"I looked up at the scoreboard, and that's when I was like, 'Whoa, when did that happen?' " Marshall said. "Honestly, it was kind of a blur to me."

Henson finished with seven dunks, and Harrison Barnes had 18 points and five assists.

Elon played better in the second half, but North Carolina continued to extend the lead. It was 71-29 with 14:25 remaining on a basket by Zeller, 81-34 on Reggie Bullock's 3-pointer at 12:27 and 88-38 on a Strickland bucket four minutes later.

"Our goal was to get a heck of a lot better," Williams said, "and I do think we made some significant steps tonight."

The victory was UNC's 55th consecutive against nonconference competition at home. The last non-ACC foe to win in Chapel Hill was Illinois in November 2005.

North Carolina's Smith Center streak ties the mark set in 1992-94. The Tar Heels will be heavily favored to get consecutive home win No. 26 on Sunday, against some guys who were part of the '90s run.

Monmouth, Sunday's opponent, is coached by King Rice. Two of his assistants are Brian Reese and Derrick Phelps, members of the 1993 NCAA title team.