North Carolina showed all those with UNC Derangement Syndrome that the Tar Heels belong in the NCAA Tournament as they were locked in during a 95-68 romp over San Diego State in a game that wasn’t even that close. (3/18)
The Tar Heels, who led by as many as 40 points, figured to have a tough go against a taller team that leads the nation in defensive field goal percentage. But it was the Carolina defense that set the tone and fast break buckets and three-pointers followed as the Heels poured it on.
Up just 13-11 after turning the ball over seven times, Carolina went on a 20-2 run over six minutes to take command of the game at 33-13. During that stretch Drake Powell and Jae’lyn Withers both swished threes and Eliott Cadeau had a couple off flashy assists and a spinning drive of his own to the hoop.
“Our defense was real, especially in the first half,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “We did a good job defending the paint and then getting out in transition…
“This group is getting better – our confidence is growing.”
RJ Davis, playing in his final NCAA Tournament, made it one to remember as he hit all six off his three-point shots and finished with a game-high 26 points, including a three at the first-half buzzer to give the Heels their largest lead to that point at 47-23.
Carolina kept the up-and-down offense and stingy defense going in the second half working the lead up to 40 at 82-42 following Davis’ final three of the game with 7:32 to go. Soon thereafter Coach Davis started taking the starters out as the Heels settled for a 29-point win.
“We know we deserved to be here,” said UNC’s Seth Trimble, who scored 16 points. “We’re not sending a message to anybody else. We hear what people say but it doesn’t make any difference.”
The three-point shot made a difference for the Heels as they hit 14 of 24 for their best three-point percentage in a game this season. Carolina also outrebounded the Aztecs 39-28. After turning the ball over seven times in the first six minutes of the game, UNC turned it over just four more times over the last 34 minutes of the game.
“We have focused guys,” Coach Davis said. “It doesn’t surprise me that they had one of their best games of the year.”
The other two Tar Heels in double figures were Ven-Allen Lubin, who had 12 points, and Jaylen Withers, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The 11th seeded Heels, now 23-13, advance to play No. 6 seed Ole Miss Friday at 4 p.m.