“It’s a big win over a very good basketball team,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “I’m glad I don’t have to go to Pittsburgh this year. They’re awfully good but we made some big plays.”
McAdoo finished with a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds while Paige scored 18 with all five of his field goals coming beyond the arc.
The Tar Heels’ sixth straight victory (17-7 overall) didn’t come easy against the physical Panthers, who held a seven-point lead midway through the first half and cut a 12-point deficit to two in the second half.
Carolina, who fell behind 20-13, rallied and tied it at 27 on a McAdoo steal and dunk with 5:40 left in the half. Isiah Hicks dunked over a defender on a fastbreak to give the Heels their first lead since it was 9-8.
A Paige four-point play – he was fouled on a three-point shot – helped the Heels to a 35-31 halftime lead.
Three more three pointers by Paige over a six-minute period in the second half helped the Heels up the lead to double figures at 56-46.
An old-fashioned three-point play by Brice Johnson on a feed by Hicks gave the Heels their largest lead of the game at 61-49 with 8:50 to play in the game.
A 12-2 Pitt run cut it to 63-61 with less than five minutes to play. Click here to read more about the wild finish.