CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina's offensive troubles didn't last long.

Moving better with and without the ball, the No. 13 Tar Heels were back in a groove Wednesday night.

North Carolina shook off a one-game offensive malaise with a sizzling shooting performance, defeating Michigan 86-71 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at the Smith Center.

"With us moving the ball like that, it's just a little harder to guard us," Tar Heels guard Kenny Williams said.

Luke Maye scored 27 points -- one shy of the junior forward's career high -- Joel Berry poured in 17 points and Williams had 12 points for North Carolina (6-1), which recorded an assist on its first 21 baskets.

"It's always good when the ball is going through the basket," Berry said. "But the biggest thing is we just wanted to play with more effort, more energy. That was the biggest thing, just coming out with more energy. The ball went in the basket for us."

Moritz Wagner scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half for Michigan (6-2). Charles Matthews added 12 points for the Wolverines.

"North Carolina might be that good," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "But we're definitely not that bad."

The Tar Heels led 45-32 with 3:27 left in the first half, matching their point total from a 63-45 Sunday night loss to Michigan State in Portland, Ore.

"We tried to move forward to Michigan," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said.

In building a 51-37 halftime lead, the Tar Heels shot 64.5 percent from the field, a huge difference from the school-worst 24.6 percent for the Michigan State game.

"We came out and exerted ourselves early," Maye said.

Michigan hadn't given up more than 32 points in any previous first half this season.

"There was just a sequence in that first half where we couldn't make a play," Beilein said. "Then we needed somebody to settle down and make a play. They didn't miss shots. We laid an egg for most of the first half defensively, half of the first half offensively."

North Carolina began the second half on a 14-2 run.

"It was a pretty good working margin," Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said.

There was an efficient early stretch for both teams. The Tar Heels led 13-12 less than four minutes into the game.

Kenny Williams had 11 points barely more than five minutes into the game, though he missed a stretch after picking up his second foul with 9:56 to play in the half.

Michigan made its first eight shots from the field before cooling off.

"They were getting open shots and knocking them down," Kenny Williams said. "But the fact that we responded was big."

There were numerous highlights for the Tar Heels, including some end-to-end action that delighted the home crowd in the first half. Sterling Manley saved the ball with a behind-the-back pass at the defensive baseline to start a fastbreak that concluded with Theo Pinson finishing with a reverse layout at the other end.

Michigan cut a 29-point hole to 78-62 with about four minutes to play. Berry's 3-pointer doused that threat.

NOTES: This was only the fifth time in 19 Big Ten/ACC Challenge games that North Carolina faced an unranked team. ... Michigan fell to 2-6 all-time in Big Ten/ACC Challenge road games. ... It marked the first time Michigan's John Beilein coached against the Tar Heels. ... North Carolina honored members of its 1993 national championship team during a first-half timeout. That group defeated Michigan in the title game in New Orleans. That was the last time these teams met until Wednesday night. ... North Carolina leads the series with Michigan 4-2, with this 15-point margin the largest of any of those meetings. ... North Carolina plays Davidson on Friday night in Charlotte. ... Michigan opens Big Ten Conference play Saturday afternoon at home against Indiana.