Meeks leads Heels to impressive debut

Tar Heels bench applauds play against Temple in season opener. Photo by J.D. Lyon, UNC Sports
Tar Heels bench applauds play against Temple in season opener. Photo by J.D. Lyon, UNC Sports
Despite being without playmaker Marcus Paige, the 2015-16 North Carolina Tar Heels debuted with an impressive 91-67 over Temple in the Veterans Classic in Annapolis as Kennedy Meeks scored a career-high 25 points. (11/13)

The game was close for most of the first half but the Tar Heels broke open a 34-all tie with a 13-2 run over the last three minutes of the half. A pair of threes by Nate Britt followed by a three from Theo Pinson at the buzzer gave Carolina a 47-36 halftime lead.

It never got close in the second half as Brice Johnson joined in to help Meeks on the offensive boards scoring 12 of his 16 points. UNC controlled the boards with a 42-14 scoring advantage in the paint and 49-32 rebounding edge.

Carolina guards focused on getting the ball down low throughout the game. Meeks went 10 for 14 from the floor and hit five of seven free throws. UNC coach Roy Williams was pleased with Meeks’ offense but not his defense even though he led the Heels in rebounding with 11. He said the size advantage helped.

“I wanted to get under the basket as much as I can and get easy baskets as much as I can,” Meeks said.

Britt, who scored 15 points, was ejected from the game late for leaving the bench area after Johnson was pushed down by a Temple player following a dunk. Coach Williams said he was disappointed in Britt for that, saying that it was the first time in 28 seasons as a coach that one of his players left the bench like that. “It’s a shame because Nate gave us as big a lift as anyone on the team,” he said.

Joel Berry also gave the Heels a lift with 14 points and as a leader out on the fast break. Carolina was seven of 12 from beyond the arc and shot 51 percent overall compared to 39 percent for the Owls.

With four in double figures and the Heels getting contributions from several players, the loss of Paige wasn’t as noticeable as most would think. “Other guys have to step up until we get Marcus back,” Pinson said.

The Tar Heels (1-0) return to Chapel Hill to take on Fairfield Sunday at 4 p.m.

Boxscore

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