NEW YORK — Come visit the Big Apple. The streets of Manhattan are safer than they've been in years, any city official will proudly tell you.

You can't hide from the crackdown on crime. Not even on the basketball court in Madison Square Garden.

JaJuan Smith, a small-town tourist from Tennessee, got the bum's rush Friday, just like a mugger in Central Park.

"I've got to watch that on TV, because I just don't feel I fouled him that hard,'' Smith said with a shake of his head in the Tennessee locker room.

The first ejection of Smith's athletic career came in the consolation game of NIT Season Tip-Off Friday after he was called for a flagrant intentional foul on North Carolina All-American Tyler Hansbrough.

He didn't even get to sit on the end of the bench and watch the final 12 minutes of North Carolina's 101-87 victory.

A towel draped over his head, he was escorted by security out of the most famous arena in America. Muhammad Ali might have looked the same exiting in 1971 after being knocked out by Joe Frazier.

"I think the crowd felt bad for him,'' said UT coach Bruce Pearl.

Smith, accompanied by Mikey Pearl, the coach's son, watched a TV monitor from the locker room while the Vols mounted a too-little, too-late rally that at least kept the final margin from getting out of hand.

"I came in here and tried to support the team on TV,'' Smith said. "I turned into a commentator.''

Meanwhile, back on the court, the action raged on at the scene of the crime.

Smith's offense was trying to prevent Hansbrough from scoring on a breakaway layup with 12:34 to play. The Tar Heels led 72-57 at the time.

Hansbrough is listed at 6-foot-9, 245 pounds. Smith is 6-2, 196.

It wasn't a tackle, but the contact was sufficient to send Hansbrough hard to the floor.

"The whole thing is to try to foul 'em to where they don't make the shot,'' Smith explained.

He might have added a "Duh!"

As victim and perpetrator went down in a heap, North Carolina coach Roy Williams sprung off his bench. He later claimed the role of peacemaker.

"Tyler is a fiercely competitive kid,'' said Williams, "and he was getting up very quickly.

"I just wanted to make sure that was all he was doing was getting up.''

Official Doug Shows gave the sign for intentional foul. When he followed with the heave-ho motion, both Williams and Pearl were surprised.

Referee Joe Lindsay said after the game there is a point of emphasis this year on hard fouls. If the player fouled is airborne and if the contact is judged to be "severe or excessive" automatic ejection can be ordered.

"Airborne?'' said Smith. "You're airborne when you're shooting a jump shot.''

Pearl defended his player:

"Hansbrough's a strong fellow,'' he said. "If you're going to try to block his shot, you have to make an aggressive play. I thought that's what it was.''

Hansbrough claimed not to remember much other than getting knocked to the ground.

"It was physical tonight,'' he said. "At the same time, I'm used to it.''

The Vols, as one would expect, were inspired by what they interpreted as a good hustle play by Smith.

After Hansbrough hit one of the two free throws, Carolina retained possession but turned the ball over. Dane Bradshaw hit a 3-pointer at the other end and pounded his chest with his fist.

"JaJuan is a popular player on this team and he's a warrior,'' said Bradshaw.

"He's not going to back down from anybody. He's been like that from the neighborhood he comes from and he's had to prove himself and play with a chip on his shoulder.

"Madison Square Garden, against North Carolina, expect him to thrive on that.''

Did he, uh, thrive excessively? It's a judgment call. At least nobody was hurt.

And whether it's Christmas shopping on Fifth Avenue or running a break at the Garden, you can rest assured crime will not be tolerated.

Cross the line and you're outta here.