CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina finally beat Kentucky again, thanks to Rashad McCants and Sean May. Jawad Williams helped a bunch, too.

Rashad McCants scored 28 points, and Sean May had 14 points and 19 rebounds, helping the ninth-ranked Tar Heels beat No. 8 Kentucky 91-78 Saturday in a game between the two winningest programs in college basketball history.

McCants had 20 of his points in the first half and May scored 11 points in eight minutes of the second, but Williams’ basket was equally clutch. The Wildcats had trimmed what was a 17-point deficit to seven on a 3-pointer by Bobby Perry with about 4 minutes left.

Raymond Felton missed a 3 for the Tar Heels, but Williams timed his leap perfectly to give North Carolina (6-1) an 81-72 lead. May made a free throw and McCants added two, and Kentucky never got closer than eight the rest of the way.

Williams scored 19 for the Tar Heels.

Kelenna Azubuike had 24 points for the Wildcats (4-1), and Joe Crawford finished with 11. Leading scorer Chuck Hayes, saddled with foul trouble, didn’t score until the second half and had only four points.

The schools have played since 1923-24, and recent history has belonged to the Wildcats. Before Saturday, they had won four straight since the series was revived in 2000 – including a 61-56 win last season in Lexington.

The game was fast paced from the beginning, with North Carolina scoring the first eight points in less than 2 minutes to force a timeout by Kentucky coach Tubby Smith. The Tar Heels’ lead reached 24-6 and 36-19 before the Wildcats recovered, but North Carolina still had a 15-point margin at the break.

Azubuike led a 9-0 run to start the second half, but May then took over. His spurt included three dunks, two layups and a free throw to complete a three-point play, giving the Tar Heels a 65-51 lead.

A 3-pointer by McCants made it 71-54 with about 9 minutes left.

With two freshmen starters and two more freshmen who feature prominently in the rotation, Kentucky got back in the game from long range. Crawford made a 3-pointer, then Ravi Moss and Perry added two more on consecutive possessions to get Kentucky within 79-72.

It could have gotten even closer after the Wildcats forced a shot clock violation, but Perry shot an air ball on a leaner from the baseline and Williams responded with his putback to seal it.