After an uneven game against Hawaii, North Carolina returned to form by using its size advantage to whip Chaminade 104-61.
“We were just bigger and more gifted,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “We were challenged by them early but our size got to them… We were just too big for them.”
The Silverswords hung with the Tar Heels for more than 11 minutes before the Heels really turned it on. With Carolina leading by just four at 28-24 with less than nine minutes left in the half, big man Kennedy Meeks took control by scoring 10 points in just over four minutes.
He hit a hook shot, got loose for a layup and scored after three missed Carolina threes, including two tips.
He went a perfect seven for seven for a team-high 14 points to lead the Heels to a 50-34 halftime lead.
It never got closer as the Heels opened up a 21-point edge on a short jumper by Isaiah Hicks, who finished with a career-high 22 points.
The lead swelled to 32 after Nate Britt lobbed to Bradley for a dunk that made it 79-47 with 10:35 left.
The final 43-point margin was the largest lead of the game.
After Hicks 22 points, Meeks tallied a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Bradley had a season-high 14 while Justin Jackson scored 12.
Defensively, the Tar Heels outrebounded Chaminade 51-23 and picked up 12 steals.
The 5-0 Tar Heels take on Oklahoma State, which has averaged more than 105 points a game, in the Maui Invitational semi-finals Tuesday night at 10:30 p.m.
For a box score and more commentary on the game, please click here.
