It’s hard to win if you don’t make shots. That was the prevailing theme after No. 7-ranked North Carolina topped NC State 67-54 on Wednesday in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,500 at PNC Arena. NC State shot a miserable 2 of 21 from three-point range and 18 of 67 from the field for 26.9 percent. To see Coach Kevin Keatts’ press conference, please click here.

North Carolina’s defense held NC State to just 27 percent shooting and used a 15-2 run late in the game to battle past the Pack 67-54 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh. (1/10)

Up just 30-28 at the half and 52-48 with less than nine minutes to play, the Tar Heels reeled off 11 points in a row to open up the game.

Elliot Cadeau got the run started as he dashed across the lane for a bucket. RJ Davis penetrated the lane for a 10 footer than gave Carolina its first double-digit lead of the game at 59-48.

Cadeau helped extend the lead when he backhanded a bounce pass around State big man DJ Burns to Armando Bacot for a nifty bucket. The 11-0 run eventually extended to a 15-2 run after Davis drilled a three from the left sideline to give the Heels their biggest lead at 67-50.

“Cadeau has the ability to attack and get to the basket,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “In the second half, his defense was just terrific.”

Coach Davis said he told the team after the game that they played “elite” defense. “In the first half, we played good defense but then we’d foul,” he said. “In the second half, we didn’t do that – we played good defense and didn’t foul.”

It was a total team effort, Coach Davis said, pointing to Jalen Washington’s defense on Burns, Seth Trimble’s offensive boost in the second half and Harrison Ingram’s 19 rebounds.

Ingram missed both his free throw attempts, hit just one of three three-pointers and turned the ball over twice but he found a way to contribute on the boards.

“I consider myself a Swiss Army Knife player,” Ingram said. “I just try to find a way to contribute where needed and help find a way to win.”

The Tar Heels outrebounded the Pack 49-42, outscored the Pack in the paint 34-24 and had an 18-8 advantage in fastbreak points.

“It’s a good day to be Carolina,” Coach Davis said. It was the ninth win for the Tar Heels in their last 11 visits to NC State. Both teams were 3-0 in the ACC coming into the game – the first time both teams were undefeated in the league when facing each other since 1974.

Casey Morsell led the Wolfpack with 12 points while Burns followed with 11 points as State falls to 11-4 and 3-1 in the ACC.

The Tar Heels, led by Davis’ 16 points and Cadeau’s 11 points, improve to 12-3 overall and 4-0 in the ACC. Carolina hosts Syracuse Saturday at noon after three tough away games at Pittsburgh, Clemson and NC State.

For a box score and more about the game, please click here.

The gauntlet continues tomorrow for North Carolina as the Tar Heels head to Raleigh in their third consecutive road ACC matchup to face the Wolfpack. NC State (11-3, 3-0 ACC) will likely join Pittsburgh and Clemson in having the crowd and team at its best when the Tar Heels come to town. Please click here for more.

NC State’s defense could be the name of the game Wednesday against North Carolina at PNC Arena. NC State has two crucial matchups in facing off against No. 7-ranked UNC, with both teams at 11-3 overall and 3-0 in the ACC. Please click here for more.