North Carolina, which has struggled defensively this season, found a UNC-Asheville team it could dominate as the Tar Heels won easily 72-53 in Chapel Hill. (11/23)

The Tar Heels held the Bulldogs to just 26.5 percent from the floor including a mere seven of 37 from beyond the arc. In addition, Carolina outrebounded the visitors 51-29 and outscored them 34-22 in the paint.

“We started the game off with tremendous energy on the defensive end,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “There was a stretch there in the first half where we had seven stops in a row.

“But offensively we had too many turnovers.”

Carolina turned it over 16 times compared to just seven for UNC-Asheville. But the Tar Heels got control of the game early, getting up 17-5 after Brady Manek hit a three from the left wing seven minutes in.

A 10-2 run, highlighted by a corner three from Dawson Garcia, put the Tar Heels up by 20 at 35-15.

But over the last five minutes of the first half and the first seven minutes of the second half, Carolina managed just 10 points while the Bulldogs scored 23 to cut the margin to just seven at 45-38.

Over the next five minutes, Carolina outscored Asheville by 11 to put the game away at 60-42 with under eight minutes to play.

Armando Bacot was the catalyst inside for the Tar Heels as he scored 22 points to lead all scorers.

Coach Davis said that’s what happens when Bacot works hard to get low-post position. “Our best low-post finisher is Armando,” he said. “We need him to be a force every game.”

Leaky Black, who scored nine, was a force on the boards as he had his best rebounding game as a collegiate with 11 rebounds. R.J. Davis was the only other Carolina player to score in double figures with 12.

The Tar Heels, now 4-2, have the Thanksgiving holiday off before returning to play Michigan next Wednesday.

For a box score and analysis of the game, please click here.