There was no letdown for North Carolina after an emotional win at Duke as the No. 1 seeded Tar Heels used an aggressive defense to run past Florida State 92-67 in the ACC Tournament. (3/14)
“Everybody knows their role,” said UNC’s Elliott Cadeau, who had eight points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals. “We have good chemistry. We’re a good team.”
Carolina not only controlled the boards (47-20 rebounds) but the Tar Heels had a season-high 26 fastbreak points.
Armando Bacot, who scored 12 of his points 14 in the first half, pounded the offensive boards in the first half to help Carolina open up a game that was only 20-19 UNC with eight minutes to go in the opening stanza.
It was ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, however, who spearheaded a 12-0 run late in the first half. First he came up with a steal that led to a run-out layup and then half a minute later he drilled a transition three.
After a battling Bacot layin – following the Heels getting multiple chances on the possession – Carolina led by 19 at 46-27.
A 10-2 Tar Heel run over just two minutes early in the second half gave Carolina its biggest lead to that point at 62-41 following a Davis swished transition three with 14:34 left in the game.
The lead got as high as 27 on several occasions with the first coming on a Jae’Lyn Withers three from the right wing with 3:54 to go which made it 84-57.
UNC coach Hubert Davis said the Tar Heels got going once they increased the pace. “It was one of our most complete games of the season,” he said, noting that the rebounding and speedy UNC guards led to the Heels getting opportunities off the break.
Davis led four Tar Heels in double figures with 18 points. Bacot and Cormac Ryan each scored 14 while Seth Trimble came off the bench to score 12, including a poster-worthy dunk down the lane.
Florida State was led by Primo Spears 17 points.
The Tar Heels improve to 26-6 overall, and advance to tomorrow’s matchup with either Wake Forest or Pitt.
For a box score, a highlight video and more on the game, please click here.