Mike Davis had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 21 Illinois pulled away in the second half to beat visiting North Carolina 79-67 Tuesday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Five players scored in double figures for Illinois (7-1), including Demetri McCarney (17), Mike Tisdale (14), Jereme Richmond (12) and D.J. Richardson (11), whose 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer gave the Illini a 38-30 lead.

North Carolina (4-3), playing its first non-neutral site road game of the season, was led by John Henson’s 16 points and six rebounds. Tyler Zeller scored 10 points and Justin Knox added eight points off the bench.

North Carolina freshman Harrison Barnes, the Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year, finished with eight points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Illinois opened the second half with a 12-6 run to lead by 13 with 13:56 remaining. The Illini, which was 8 for 13 on 3-pointers, led 63-48 after Tisdale’s layup with 8:51 remaining.

McCarney, who entered the game leading the NCAA in assists with 54 (7.7 average), added eight against the Tar Heels. The senior guard has also reached double figures in scoring in seven of the Illini’s first eight games.

North Carolina defeated Illinois in the 2005 National Championship game 75-70.