North Carolina got a career-high 21 points on seven threes from Jae’lyn Withers as the Tar Heels led start to finish in a 76-56 rout of Notre Dame in the second round of the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. (3/12)
“JWit is the most comfortable and settled he’s been, and his shot selection is great,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “Not only that but his defensive has been elite – rebounding, blocking shots and running the floor.”
The impressive victory helps Carolina’s argument for an NCAA Tournament bid but it’s going to take another nice win over Wake Forest Thursday afternoon and then perhaps another win or two in the ACC Tournament to ensure a bid.
“We’re taking a one-game-at-a-time approach,” said UNC’s RJ Davis, who finished with 13 points. “We can’t look too far ahead. We’ve stayed in the moment even though we hear the bubble team noise.” He said the team playing together and being in the present has helped the Tar Heels move forward.
Something else that’s helped – besides the team’s 13 three pointers – is the inside play of Ven-Allen Lubin, who accomplished a double-double for the Heels with 17 points (all in the paint) and 10 rebounds.
A spinning layin by Lubin gave Carolina its first 20-point lead of the game at 37-17 with 4:36 left in the first half.
The Tar Heels went cold late in the first half, missing seven of their last eight shots of the half, as the Irish outscored Carolina 9-2 over the last three minutes to cut the margin to 14, 43-29 at the break.
After Notre Dame cut it to 12, the Tar Heels didn’t let it get any closer. After a Davis three and another spin move layin by Lubin, the Heels worked the margin back up to 20 at 60-40 midway through the second half.
A Withers three late – his seventh of the game – gave the Heels their biggest margin of the game at 74-50. Withers hit five of his threes in the first half.
Carolina shot 48 percent from the floor – including 13 of 28 from three – while holding Notre Dame to 32 percent – including six of 20 from three.
The Heels held Markus Burton, who averages 31 points a game, to just 11 points.
Carolina, now 21-12, is playing its best defense and offense of the season at the right time despite giving out of gas against Duke in the regular season finale. While taking it one game at a time, the Tar Heels could get another date with Duke if they can defeat Wake Forest and Duke can get by Georgia Tech Thursday.
Notre Dame finishes its season with a 15-18 record.