North Carolina was totally outplayed in every category when Louisville came to Chapel Hill in January but at Louisville in February the Tar Heels turned the tables. Carolina dominated by even more than the 79-69 final score. (2/2)
The biggest difference may have been on the boards as the Heels, who were outrebounded by 10 the last time, outrebounded the Cardinals by 17 this time, 49-32.
UNC coach Roy Williams said his club showed greater effort, great execution and greater concentration this time around. “I’ve got competitive guys who got their tails beaten about as bad as they could have been beaten – we were slapped in the face in our own place,” he said of Carolina’s 83-62 loss Jan. 12. “It’s been a good run for us but we got beat so bad by Louisville that stuck with me a long time.”
Both teams came out tough but runs of 12-2 and 18-4 put the Heels in control 42-23 late in the first half.
Seldom-used big man Brandon Huffman, getting more playing time with Sterling Manley and Leaky Black out with injuries, capped the 12-2 run when he muscled in for a bucket after making a defensive stop at the other end.
Cam Johnson, who scored 19 points and hauled in 10 rebounds, sank a couple of threes during the 18-4 run, which ended on a fastbreak dunk by Coby White.
Carolina, which led by 16 at the half, managed to stay up by 12 to 18 points most of the second half. But Louisville’s Dwayne Sutton banged in three threes in less than two minutes to cut the lead to nine midway through the way.
A driving layup by White followed by a top-of-the-key three by Kenny Williams pushed Carolina’s lead back up to a more comfortable 14 points.
An 8-0 Louisville run late in the game kept the final score respectable but the outcome was never really in doubt.
Joining Johnson in double figures for the Tar Heels were Luke Maye, who had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Garrison Brooks, who had 12, and Williams, who added 10.
North Carolina moves to 17-4 and tied for first in the ACC at 7-1 in the league. Louisville, led by Sutton’s 19 points, falls to 16-6 overall and 7-2 in the conference.
The Tar Heels host rival N.C. State Tuesday night.
For more on the game, including a box score, please click here.
