After an uneven game against Hawaii, North Carolina returned to form by using its size advantage to whip Chaminade 104-61. <\/p>\n
“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.” <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
He hit a hook shot, got loose for a layup and scored after three missed Carolina threes, including two tips. <\/p>\n
He went a perfect seven for seven for a team-high 14 points to lead the Heels to a 50-34 halftime lead.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The lead swelled to 32 after Nate Britt lobbed to Bradley for a dunk that made it 79-47 with 10:35 left. <\/p>\n
The final 43-point margin was the largest lead of the game. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Defensively, the Tar Heels outrebounded Chaminade 51-23 and picked up 12 steals.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n