WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Wake Forest spent the last few years trying to recreate the magic of Chris Paul. They've finally done it — by not trying so hard to become an exact copy of his final team.

Still, a few similarities can't hurt — like having yet another high-scoring point guard.

Behind Jeff Teague's career-high 34 points, the fourth-ranked Demon Deacons held on for a 92-89 triumph over No. 3 North Carolina last night that marked the first big victory of the season for coach Dino Gaudio's young but talented team.

"I remember these last three years, we'd try to be like the Chris Paul team. You try to fulfill that role. ... We had everybody trying to fulfill a role, but us as a team, we have our own identity," said guard Harvey Hale, the team's only senior on scholarship. "That's why we're good."

Chas McFarland matched a season high with 20 points for the Demon Deacons (14-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who remained one of three unbeatens in Division I and matched the 1980-81 team that also won its first 14 games.

Not that they're looking for a place in history, yet. Not with their next game coming Wednesday against the same Boston College team that a week ago gave North Carolina its first loss of the season. A year ago, the Eagles beat Wake Forest to kill the buzz of its upset of then-No. 2 Duke.

"Guys are more mature now, grown up," Teague said. "We understand that what we did was a big win, but we've got to move forward."

Danny Green scored 22 points, and Wayne Ellington and Tyler Hansbrough added 17 apiece for North Carolina (14-2, 0-2). Hansbrough's came on 3-of-12 shooting, and he missed all five of his shots in the second half.

"It seems like teams are playing me more physical and trying to push me outside," Hansbrough said. "But it's on me to get inside and get my position."

The Tar Heels have lost their prime position in the polls, too. In a span of eight days, the once-unanimous No. 1 team in the nation has lost two of three and shares last place in the ACC with Georgia Tech.

Wake Forest led for most of the second half, but the Tar Heels made things interesting late by twice closing within three points in the final minute.

After Will Graves' 3-pointer made it 91-89 with 4.7 seconds left, Teague knocked down a free throw with 3.3 seconds remaining to end the scoring.

"We made big plays down the stretch — that's all I can say," Teague said.

NO. 1 PITTSBURGH 90, ST. JOHN'S 67

PITTSBURGH — DeJuan Blair scored 23 points and cleaned up inside with 15 rebounds as the Panthers (15-0, 3-0 Big East), playing their first game as the nation's top-ranked basketball team, pulled away in the second half to beat the Red Storm (10-5, 1-2).

Leading by five points at halftime, Pitt clamped down on defense and found its shooting range, knocking down three 3-pointers in a 17-6 spurt in the first seven minutes of the second half.

D.J. Kennedy, who won a Pennsylvania state high school title as Blair's teammate, scored 18 for St. John's.

NO. 10 UCLA 64, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 60

LOS ANGELES — Darren Collison scored 18 points, Nikola Dragovic added 14 in his first start of the season and the visiting Bruins (13-2, 3-0 Pac-10) held off the crosstown rival Trojans (10-5, 1-2).

Freshman DeMar DeRozan scored a career-high 15 points and Taj Gibson added 13 points for Southern California, which blew a six-point lead early in the second half.

NO. 14 PURDUE 65, WISCONSIN 52

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — JaJuan Johnson had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Robbie Hummel scored 16 in his return from a back injury and the Boilermakers (12-4, 1-2 Big Ten) beat the Badgers (12-4, 3-1).

Joe Krabbenhoft had 13 points and seven rebounds for Wisconsin, which had won three straight. Marcus Landry, Wisconsin's leading scorer, finished with nine points on 3-for-15 shooting.

NO. 16 XAVIER 86, FORDHAM 60

NEW YORK — B.J. Raymond scored 18 points and the Musketeers (13-2, 2-0 Atlantic 10) shot a season-best 53.8 percent from the field (28 for 52) to beat the Rams (2-12, 0-2).

Alberto Estwick scored 20 points for Fordham, which has lost five straight.

NO. 22 MINNESOTA 79, PENN STATE 59

MINNEAPOLIS — Reserve Devron Bostick scored 19 points to lead the Gophers (15-1, 3-1 Big Ten), who shot 62.5 percent and made all nine of their 3-point attempts.

Talor Battle had 19 points and nine assists for Nittany Lions (13-4, 2-2), but teammate Stanley Pringle, who averaged 19.3 points in the first three conference games, was held to seven points on 2-of-8 shooting.

TOP 25 WOMEN

NO. 2 NO. CAROLINA 75, NORTH CAROLINA ST. 66

Chapel Hill, N.C. — Rashanda McCants and Cetera DeGraffenreid each scored 16 points and the Tar Heels (16-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) dominated the Wolfpack (8-8, 0-1) in overtime to give coach Sylvia Hatchell her 800th career victory.

Hatchell (800-274 in 34 seasons overall) became the fourth coach to reach 800 wins, joining Pat Summitt, Jody Conradt and C. Vivian Stringer.

"I was about to think it wasn't going to happen there for a while," Hatchell said with a chuckle. "I thought we looked good in overtime. Maybe we need to warm up for 40 minutes."

Bonae Holston scored 19 points to lead N.C. State.

NO. 24 VANDERBILT 74, NO. 7 TENNESSEE 58

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jessica Mooney scored 15 points to help Commodores (13-4, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) beat the Lady Vols (12-3, 1-1) for only the seventh time in their rivalry.

Alex Fuller scored 12 points for Tennessee, which has dominated this series between schools separated by 190 miles along Interstate 40, winning the last 16 and 52 of the first 58.

NO. 9 AUBURN 81, NO. 18 FLORIDA 65

AUBURN, Ala. — DeWanna Bonner scored 29 points, leading the Tigers (17-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) over the Gators (15-2, 1-1).

Marshae Dotson led Florida with 13 points.

NO. 10 LOUISVILLE 64, NO. 17 RUTGERS 59

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Angel McCoughtry scored 31 points — including four free throws in the final 20 seconds — as the Cardinals (16-1, 3-0 Big East) held off the Scarlet Knights (8-5, 0-2).

Epiphanny Prince had a season-high 29 points for Rutgers, which lost its third straight game for the first time in more than five years.

NO. 13 CALIFORNIA 62, WASHINGTON 34

BERKELEY, Calif. — Ashley Walker had 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Golden Bears (13-2, 4-0 Pac-10) won their fifth straight game.

Liz Lay scored 11 points to lead Washington (5-8, 1-2).

NO. 15 VIRGINIA 77, WAKE FOREST 59

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Monica Wright scored 20 points to carry the Cavaliers (14-2, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) over the Demon Deacons (12-3, 0-2).

Camille Collier led Wake Forest with 25 points, including five 3-pointers.

NO. 25 MARIST 86, LOYOLA, MD. 44

BALTIMORE — Rachele Fitz had 27 points as the Red Foxes (15-1, 6-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) won their 33rd straight conference game.

Meredith Tolley and Alex Berlin each had nine points for the Greyhounds (8-7, 3-2).