Freshman guard Mike Rosario shot nine of 17 from the field, including four of eight from behind the arc, en route to 26 points to pace Rutgers (9-4) in a hardfought 97-75 defeat at No. 1-ranked North Carolina (12-0) Sunday evening at the Dean Smith Center. Four players scored in double figures for the Scarlet Knights, who shot 47.5 percent (28-59), the best mark against the Tar Heels this season.

Sophomore Corey Chandler continued his strong play against UNC, making five of 11 field goal attempts to post 14 points in the hostile environment. He scored 23 against the Tar Heels last season. Seniors Anthony Farmer and J.R. Inman finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Farmer also recorded a season-high six assists against the Tar Heels, while making five of nine from the field.

UNC scored the game's first five points, before Rosario put RU on the board with a three-pointer. After North Carolina took a six-point lead at 11-5, Rutgers went on a 7- 2 run to bring the game within one, 13-12. UNC again pulled away, building an 11- point advantage at 32-21. RU would not back down, going on a 7-0 stretch, highlighted by a Farmer three-point play, to produce a 32-28 score with 7:56 remaining before the break.

The Tar Heels proceeded to go on a 20- 6 run to take a 52-34 lead with 2:01 to go in the half. Rutgers scored the stanza's final four points and headed to the locker room facing a 52-38 deficit. The Scarlet Knights trailed by 14 points despite shooting 51.7 (15-of-29) percent in the opening 20 minutes, becoming just the fifth team to shoot over 50 percent in a half versus the Tar Heels this season.

Rutgers scored the first basket of the second half to get back to within 12. The Tar Heels then built their advantage to 19- points, 63-44, before RU fought back and came within 12 again, thanks to an 11-6 run. UNC went up by 18 at 75-57, but another RU run brought the game within 13 on a Chandler three-pointer with 5:33 to play. The Tar Heels finally put the game out of reach with a 10-2 stretch to generate a 90-69 advantage with 3:55 on the clock. The 97- 75 final score marked the home squad's largest lead of the evening.

Reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough scored 26 points to lead the Tar Heels, who shot 51.5 percent (35-68) from the field.

The Scarlet Knights continue their history making week with a matchup against No. 3/3 Pittsburgh at the RAC this Wednesday (Dec. 31). Game time for the contest, which will be televised live on MSG, is set for 2 p.m.