North Carolina certainly didn’t look like the No 1 team in the nation as UNC-Wilmington, fighting hard, turned the game into an ugly physical affair. But the Tar Heels shook off enough of the rust to get by the Seahawks 69-56 in the season opener in Chapel Hill. (11/7)
“We’re getting the rust off,” UNC’s Caleb Love said. “It was our first real game together… We’re getting the chemistry back to where it was last year. I give credit to our fans – they led us to that win.”
Tied at 17, UNC went on a late first-half 15-4 run to take a 32-21 halftime margin and it stayed close to that throughout the second half.
The Seahawks did get the lead down to eight briefly midway through the second half but Caleb Love helped the Heels to their biggest lead at 16.
Love came up with a steal and drained a 15 footer and then drove the lane and was fouled. After the free throw, Carolina led 61-45 with 4:30 to go.
“I felt like they were a little nervous and excited,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said of his team. “On the offensive end, we weren’t moving with pace. We couldn’t handle the basketball. But a win is a win over a quality UNC-W team.”
The Seahawks did go 27–9 last year but the Tar Heels have more talent, and that was ultimately the difference.
The Seahawks never really threatened to take a lead in the second half but they muddied the waters and made it difficult for the Tar Heels to get out on the break and pull away.
While All-America candidate Armando Bacot scored 16, he sat with four fouls for a long stretch in the second half, and was flustered inside by players collapsing on him whenever he got the ball.
Two other usual suspects scored in double figures as Love had 17 points as did R.J. Davis.
But the Seahawks kept the score down by taking their time on the offensive end and then getting after it on the boards on both ends of the court, outrebounding Carolina 36-29.
UNC-W’s Trazarien White led all scorers with 19 points, 17 of which came in the second half.
Carolina, 1-0, hosts the College of Charleston Friday night.
For a box score and more analysis of the game, please click here.