Freshman Harrison Barnes had 13 points to lead the White team in North Carolina's intrasquad scrimmage to start the preseason practice Friday night.
Barnes, regarded by many as the nation's top recruit, was 6 of 10 from the field in unofficial stats kept by reporters. Barnes had a chance to give his team the win in the final seconds, but lost the ball while trying to split two defenders in a scrimmage that ended in a 31-31 tie.
Fellow freshman Reggie Bullock hit the tying 3-pointer with about 16 seconds left for the Blue team. Kendall Marshall, the third member of the touted recruiting class, missed both of his shots and was called for two charging fouls.
Sophomore Dexter Strickland scored 16 points lead Blue.
North Carolina wasted little time putting its touted freshman class front and center in its annual ''Late Night With Roy'' event filled with skits and jokes to kick off a new season.
Barnes, Bullock and Marshall even spoofed LeBron James' TV appearance on ''The Decision'' to announce he was signing with the Miami Heat. In their version, they were questioned by ESPN's Stuart Scott - an alum of the school and the annual M.C. of the event - before announcing they would take their dancing talents to the ''Late Night'' show.
It was clear the Tar Heels were ready to turn the page on last year's miserable 17-loss season. There was practically no mention of last season and only a brief montage of highlights from last year shortly before the team's 20-minute intrasquad scrimmage. The Tar Heels showed as many clips from their exhibition trip to the Bahamas in August in which Barnes, Bullock and Marshall played for the first time in the storied program's familiar light blue jerseys.
