North Carolina has rallied in most second halfs this year, including a comeback win over Dayton the night before, but the Tar Heels got down by 19 and couldn’t challenge No. 4 Auburn as the War Eagles won 85-72 in the Maui Invitational semi-finals. (11/27)
After the second largest comeback in Carolina history against Dayton, UNC coach Hubert Davis said it wasn’t sustainable getting down and having to make comebacks. He was proven right just a day later.
All-America player Johni Broome put the Tar Heels in a hole early scoring Auburn’s first seven points and nine of the first 16 for the War Eagles. In the first five minutes Auburn hit three triples to gain control at 19-6.
“They were in control the whole game,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “They were disruptive defensively with their physicality.” He said that was the difference in the game.
The Tar Heels were still in it at the half as Auburn rode Broome’s first-half double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) to a 40-32 advantage.
But not only didn’t Carolina make a run once the second half started, the War Eagles went on a 12-2 run in the first three minutes of the second stanza. During that run, Auburn hit three more three pointers and finished with 11 triples.
The Heels had a chance to cut the deficit to single digits with about six minutes left but Eliot Cadeau came up short on the shot and Brome was fouled on the rebound. He went on to hit two free throws to give Auburn a 73-60 lead.
By the time Carolina did get the deficit to nine at 75-66 after a Seth Trimble three, there were only three minutes to go. Auburn went on a quick 8-0 run to end any threat of a comeback.
“We had some spurts but we weren’t good enough to win tonight,” Coach Davis said.
Trimble had 17 points to lead Carolina while RJ Davis added 12, after scoring 30 the night before. Cadeau, Ven-Allen Lubin and Jae’lyn Withers each tallied 10 points.
Broome finished with 23 points and 19 rebounds to lead Auburn, which improves to 6-0.
Carolina, now 4-2, plays Michigan State in the third place game at 9:30 Wednesday. The Auburn game started at 11:35 Tuesday.