SAN ANTONIO — At halftime, North Carolina trails Iowa State 40-37.
UNC sophomore and top reserve Brice Johnson went out of the game with nearly 15 minutes remaining when he absorbed an Iowa State offensive foul.
Johnson went back to the locker room after the injury described as a right ankle sprain. X-rays performed in the building came back negative, but Johnson did not return in the first half.
A UNC spokesman said Johnson's status would be reevaluated at halftime.
Iowa State built a lead as great as nine points in the first half behind sharp shooting from 3-point range. The Cyclones have connected on seven of 15 3-point attempts, with more than half of their field goals coming from behind the arc.
The Cyclones are 34.3 percent from the floor but 46.7 percent from behind the arc. North Carolina is shooting 40 percent from the floor, connecting on 14 of 35 attempts. UNC has made four 3-pointers, two apiece from Leslie McDonald and Marcus Paige.
McDonald leads UNC with 12 points, and Kennedy Meeks has seven points and eight rebounds.
UNC collected 11 personal fouls in the first half, including 10 midway through the first half. Iowa State finished the half with 10 personal fouls.
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