Florida State’s 26 of 27 free throws, including four during an 8-2 run over the last two minutes, ended North Carolina’s three-game win streak with an 82-75 win in Tallahassee. (1/16)
It was the third-best percentage (.963) ever in a game against UNC by an opponent with 20 or more free throw attempts. “You can’t put people on the free throw line like that,” UNC coach Roy Williams said.
The Tar Heels, who scored 15 fewer free throws, made 10 three pointers, the most in more than two years but the Seminoles made eight threes themselves.
Carolina trailed by 10 at 72-62 with less than six minutes to go but went on an 11-2 run, highlighted by five points from Anthony Harris, who was seeing his first action of the season.
Down just 74-73 with two minutes left, the Tar Heels couldn’t get over the hump.
Coach Williams said he doesn’t believe in moral victories but he just wants his team to play better right now. “You get the game to a one-possession game and you make some mistakes, miss some shots, you’re not quite as powerful going up with it,” Williams said, “or you get it to one and then you don’t get a defensive stop. We just got to get better in all of those things.”
This was the first time freshmen guards R.J. Davis (16), Caleb Love (11) and Kerwin Walton (14) have scored in double figures in the same game. Senior Garrison Brooks was the fourth Tar Heel in double figures with 12 points.
A bright spot for the Tar Heels was the return of Harris, who has been out for more than a year recuperating from a knee injury. In less than nine minutes in the second half Harris scored five points and dished out three assists.
Florida State’s M.J. Walker scored 20 points but the surprise was Raiquan Gray who had a career-high 19 to help provide the Seminoles with their 20th consecutive home conference victory.
There were four ties and five lead changes in the first half as the Seminoles led 41-37 at the break. But the Tar Heels never tied it or took the lead in the second half.
The Seminoles improve to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the ACC. The Tar Heels, now 8-5 overall and 3-3 in the conference, host Wake Forest Wednesday.
For a box score and more on the game, please click here.