American buried five three pointers in the first half to hang with heavy favorite North Carolina but it was the Tar Heels who turned it on in the second half to bury the Eagles 107-55 in Chapel Hill. (11/15)
Carolina had 23 fastbreak points compared to none for American and the Heels had 22 points off turnovers while the Eagles had just six. In the second half, the up-tempo Tar Heels hung 64 points on the visitors while allowing only 21 points.
“I told (our players) they’re at their best when they play fast and free,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “They see the benefits of getting out in transition and trying to score before the defense is set.”
Elliot Cadeau led the explosion with immense pressure on the American ballhandlers, picking up four steals and eight assists to go with 18 points.
“It was in the scouting report to pressure their guards so that’s what I tried to do,” Cadeau said. “In the second half, everybody stepped up and hit more shots, and I was able to find them.”
Cadeau’s point total matched big man Jalen Washington’s career-high 18 points in only 18 minutes of play. He hit all six of his field goals.
It was American that started hot as three different Eagles hit four threes over a four-minute span to help them to an 18-13 lead less than eight minutes into the game.
A Seth Trimble steal and layup followed immediately by a Cadeau steal and layup put Carolina ahead at 23-20 with 9:22 left in the first half. The Tar Heels never trailed again although they led the 25-point underdogs by only nine at the half, 43-34.
Carolina had missed all 10 of their three-point attempts before transfer Cade Tyson drilled a three from the left corner with 12:40 to play to bring the home crowd to its feet and put the Heels in command at 61-43. Tyson had figured to be the Heels’ three-point artist this season but he had not played much in the first two games. He wound up with three triples for 11 points over 22 minutes.
The other two Tar Heels to reach double figures were Trimble and RJ Davis, who each finished with 13 points. Davis was once again cold from deep, however, as he managed just one of seven three pointers.
Matt Rogers led the way for American, now 1-3, with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Carolina, 2-1, travels to play Hawaii Friday, Nov. 22.
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