BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Malcolm Delaney scored 21 points,including two key free throws with 36.6 seconds left, and Virginia Tech kept North Carolina in its worst tailspin since a five-game losing streak in 2002-03 with a 74-70 victory Thursday night.
Delaney's free throws doubled the lead to 71-67 for the Hokies (17-4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), and the only basket the Tar Heels could manage thereafter came at the buzzer, sealing the fifth loss in six games for last year's national champions.
Dorenzo Hudson added 17 points and Jeff Allen had 14 for Virginia Tech.
The Tar Heels were led by Ed Davis with 15 points and John Henson with 14.
North Carolina (13-9, 2-5) appeared to have pulled within one when Will Graves' 3-point try with just under 20 seconds left went halfway down and then rolled out. Allen rebounded for Virginia Tech, was fouled and made one free throw to push the margin to five.
Larry Drew's shot at the other end banked off the side of the backboard, the Hokies again rebounding and avenging an earlier 78-64 loss to the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Neither team led by more than four in the second half until Delaney hit back-to-back 3-pointers, sparking a 13-5 run that gave Virginia Tech a 61-52 lead. Delaney also was called for his fourth personal foul after his second 3 and went to the bench with 12 minutes left.
It hardly mattered as the Tar Heels never got closer than three again, and Delaney came back into the game with 7 minutes left and made the two free throws to seal it.
The Tar Heels scored the last six points of the first half to lead 35-33 at the break.
Virginia Tech came out red hot, taking quick shots and seemingly intent on burying the Tar Heels quickly. The Hokies led 18-6 after 6 1/2 minutes, then went cold. North Carolina took full advantage, outscoring Virginia Tech 21-8 over the next eight minutes to go ahead 27-26.
David Wear had six points in the run and John Henson and Deon Thompson four apiece.
The half left several key players on both teams in foul trouble, with Allen, Delaney and Hudson among five Hokies with two fouls, and Davis and Thompson among three Tar Heels. Delaney and Davis both played extensively after drawing their second personals.
One of the largest cheers of the night came during a timeout with 15:58 remaining in the game, when Hokies football coach Frank Beamer accepted the Chick-fil-A Bowl trophy from game president Gary Stokan at midcourt. The Hokies beat Tennessee 37-14 in the game on Dec. 31.
