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UNC’s JWash comes up big in ugly thriller over Pack

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In the last 30 seconds in Raleigh, North Carolina’s Jalen Washington dunked one in and kept one out with a block to give the Tar Heels a 63-61 over N.C. State. (1/11)

It was an ugly game for both teams as the Wolfpack scored a season-low 20 points hitting only 22 percent of their shots in the first half and the Tar Heels turned the ball over 12 times and missed half their free throws.

The Wolfpack shot better in the second half, at one point hitting five straight shots to erase a nine-point Carolina lead. UNC’s Ian Jackson, who scored a game-high 21 points, drilled a three from the right sideline to give the Heels a 56-47 lead with 5:51 to go.

That’s when State went to work, outscoring Carolina 12-2 over the next three minutes to take a 59-58 lead on a jumper by Marcus Hill, who led the Pack with 20 points.

Jackson hit another three from the right side with under two minutes to go to put the Heels back up 61-59 but 30 seconds later Hill responded by driving around Heels for a layup to tie it at 61.

UNC’s RJ Davis missed an open jumper with just over a minute to play but the Carolina defense forced a turnover on the other end with 41 seconds to go. Eliot Cadeau, who had turned the ball over twice during State’s 12-2 run, dribbled low but was stiffled when he hooked an over-the-shoulder pass to Washington who promptly dunked it.

“I went to an open spot and Eliot made an incredible pass,” said Washington, who was doused with cold water by teammates in the lockerroom in celebration. On the defensive end, he anticipated the Jayden Taylor runner to the left of the lane, blocked it and came up with the loose ball as the clock expired.

Washington, who has been considered the weak link in Carolina’s starting five, more than held his own this time throughout the game. He had six points and seven rebounds in the first half as the Heels led 26-20 at the break. He finished with his first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, along with three blocked shots.

UNC coach Hubert Davis said that Washington is playing with more confidence and, as a result Coach Davis has more confidence in Washington as he indicated that he is counting on the 6-foot-10 junior to be the presence the team has needed in the paint. But he named nearly every Tar Heel as making a positive impact.

“Whatever it took to come up with a win on the road the guys did today,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “Our guys made impactful plays on both ends of the court.”

While Hill was the offensive leader for the Wolfpack, Ben Middlebrooks kept the home team in the game with a career-high 14 rebounds for State, which falls to 9-7 overall and 2-3 in the ACC.

The Tar Heels, who host Cal Wednesday at 7 p.m., improve to 11-6 overall and 4-1 in the conference.

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Tar Heels never trail in impressive victory over SMU

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North Carolina played perhaps its most complete game of the season in an 82-67 home victory over a good SMU team. (1/7)

With the score tied at 6-all, Carolina went on a 14-4 run highlighted by two three pointers by freshman Drake Powell and a three by fifth-year senior RJ Davis, who broke out of a shooting slump. Powell had four of UNC’s 11 threes while Davis and Ian Jackson each added three.

Meanwhile, the Carolina defense held SMU to a season-low 33 percent shooting from the floor, including just four of 18 from beyond the arc.

“I thought we were sound for the first 30 minutes on both ends of the floor,” UNC coach Hubert Davis. “From the offensive standpoint, we were getting exactly what we wanted in the halfcourt set, in transition and getting to the free throw line… Defensively, SMU’s got a really good team and they can score. We did a really good job doubling the post, creating turnovers and staying with their shooters.”

Carolina led by as many as 17 points in the first half when Jackson hit a three from the left wing with 1:29 left before settling for a 15-point margin at the half, 39-24.

The Tar Heels continued the onslaught working the margin up to 25 points on an old-fashioned three-point play by Jae’lyn Withers who scored cutting across the lane and was fouled.

Up 63-38, the Tar Heels got sloppy, turning the ball over four times in less than four minutes and going six minutes without a basket. The Mustangs’ 14-3 run cut the lead to 66-52 before Powell ended the run with a three and the SMU coach Andy Enfield , who had been warned for arguing calls, promptly picked up a technical.

As a result, Davis hit two free throws to put the Heels back up by 19 and thwart any further SMU comeback.

“We went back to fouling again,” Coach Hubert Davis said explaining the lead dwindling in the last 10 minutes. Cadeau, who got in foul trouble early, finished with four fouls as did Davis while fellow starters Powell and Jalen Washington had three fouls each.

Chuck Harris, off the bench, led the Mustangs with 18 points as SMU falls to 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the ACC.

Carolina placed three in double figures with Davis leading the way with 26 points while Jackson finished with 18 and Powell adding 17, 15 of which came in the first half.

The Tar Heels, who travel to NC State Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m., improve to 10-6 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

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