CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Tyler Zeller had 31 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 5 North Carolina past Appalachian State 97-82 on Saturday night.
John Henson added 17 points for the Tar Heels (9-2). They never trailed, led by 29 and shot 54.5 percent to claim their third straight win and 22nd in a row at the Dean Smith Center.
Omar Carter had 21 points and Mike Neal scored 15 for the Mountaineers (4-6). They finished 9 of 20 from 3-point range and used a late scoring flurry to cut into North Carolina's big lead, but lost their fourth straight.
Second-year Appalachian State coach Jason Capel lost his first matchup against his alma mater. He started for the Tar Heels from 1998-2002 under Bill Guthridge and Matt Doherty, and helped lead the Tar Heels to three NCAA tournaments and one Final Four.
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