Category Archives: UNC

Tigers hit 12 threes to easily beat UNC

North Carolina put up little resistance as a good Clemson team did whatever it wanted, including hitting 12 three pointers, to easily defeat the Tar Heels 85-65 in Littlejohn Auditorium. (2/10)

For the first 10 minutes of the game, Carolina stood toe-to-toe with the Tigers, fresh off a victory over first-place Duke. In fact, the Heels held a 23-21 lead with 9:22 left in the first half after RJ Davis side-stepped a defender and swished a three from the left wing.

But, Clemson’s Viktor Lakhin, a 6-foot-11 transfer from Cincinnati, hit one of his four threes on the way to 20 first-half points to give the Tigers a 24-23 lead that they would never reliquish.

The Tar Heels shot 50 percent in the first half and still trailed by 16 at the half as Clemson went on runs of 11-2 and 9-0 to break it open before the break.

“We were up in the first half and then they just took off,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “Lahkin got hot from three. We knew he had the ability to hit threes but that was the most he made all year.”

Lakhin, who had 15 threes all season, hit four in the first half and finished with a game-high 22 points and five blocks.

Coach Davis also pointed to turnovers and bad shot selection as reasons for the defeat. Both teams ended up turning the ball over 13 times but most of Clemson came late when UNC frantic, scrambling defense forced some turnovers. Many of Carolina’s turnovers were unforced and the offensive engine – guard Eliott Cadeau – committed six of them.

The 20-point defeat was the largest loss to Clemson in Carolina basketball history. The Tar Heels, led by Davis’ 18 points, fall to 14-11 overall and 7-6 in the ACC.

“There’s a responsibility with that jersey on to get back up and competitively fight,” Coach Davis said.

Carolina travels to Syracuse Saturday evening before hosting NC State Feb. 19.

Clemson, tied for second in the ACC, improves to 20-5 and 12-2 in the league.

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UNC basketball vs Clemson: Score prediction, scouting report for ACC game

UNC basketball has an NCAA Tournament-like turnaround for a game that could determine if the Tar Heels are going to make the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels (14-10, 7-5 ACC), who earned a one-point win against Pitt over the weekend at the Smith Center, will face Clemson (19-5, 11-2) on Monday (7 p.m., ESPN) at Littlejohn Coliseum. Please click here for more.

Tar Heels win a close one late over Pitt

North Carolina got a late step-back jumper from RJ Davis and employed an aggressive, scrambling defense in the closing seconds to hang on for a 67-66 victory over Pittsburgh in Chapel Hill. (2/08)

The Tar Heels had a week to prepare in order to avenge a Jan. 28 loss at Pitt and it seemed to show early as Carolina got out to a 26-15 lead in the first 11 minutes. During one stretch, UNC big man Ven-Allen Lubin scored nine straight with assists from Eliott Cadeau, Davis and Ian Jackson.

But, as Carolina faithful have seen all season, the Tar Heels went cold as an opponent took advantage. This time Pitt went on a 10-0 run, eventually tying the game before the Heels took a 35-32 halftime advantage.

The second half saw eight ties and 12 lead changes with the last coming when Davis hit a step-back jumper from just past the free throw line with 51 seconds to go to give UNC a 67-66 lead.

Pitt’s Jaland Lowe, who scored 15 points, had two chances to give Pitt the lead but after his second miss, Lubin rebounded and Lowe fouled out of the game. The Tar Heels ended up having two chances in the last 20 seconds to wrap it up at the free throw line but Lubin missed the front end of a one-and-one before Seth Trimble did the same a couple of seconds later.

Carolina’s defense ended up winning it when the Heels forced a loose ball that ate time away and then Cadeau was solid covering Ismael Leggett, who’s off-balanced shot in the lane came up short at the buzzer.

“All we needed was one stop there at the end,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said pointing to deflections, disrupting passing lanes and simply hustle plays in the closing seconds.

While Coach Davis liked the defensive adjustments and execution during the game, it took a shot from RJ Davis to give Carolina the win. Late in the shot clock, when the designed play didn’t work, Davis took it upon himself to make something happen. That’s when he hit the winning shot with 51 seconds left.

“He’s finding a real nice rhythm out there on the floor,” Coach Davis said of Davis, who has struggled to find his shot. “I have always had confidence in him.”

Davis led Carolina with 18 points while Lubin had 17 and Trimble added 15.

Cam Corhen led Pitt, now 14-9 overall and 5-7 in the ACC, with 17 points.

Carolina improves to 14-10 and 7-5 in the conference with a big game coming up Monday night at Clemson.

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