CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — It didn’t take overtime this time, but North Carolina still had to grind out a win against Louisville on Monday night, 70-63, in a game that had seemingly everyone at the Dean E. Smith Center standing in the final minutes.

The game had nine ties and eight lead changes before sophomore guard Caleb Love’s layup with 37 seconds left gave the Tar Heels (20-8, 12-5 ACC) a 68-63 lead and their first two-possession lead in the game’s final three minutes.

UNC beat the Cardinals (12-13, 6-11) 90-83 in overtime on Feb. 1 in Louisville.

Durham native El Ellis, who scored a career-high 25 points for U of L in that game, managed only seven on Monday.

To sub or not to sub

Considering the game was a short turnaround from Carolina’s 65-57 win at Virginia Tech on Saturday, Hubert Davis still relied primarily on the starting five to play big minutes.

That’s not a departure given all five starters played 38 or more minutes in their overtime win against the Cards. Reserves in the first meeting — Puff Johnson, Justin McKoy and Kerwin Walton — totaled 21 minutes.

On Monday, Johnson, Walton and freshman Dontrez Styles accounted for 20 minutes.

Love, who scored 16 points and had five assists.