CHAPEL HILL, NC – The NC state has entered its second event against North Carolina with the chance to sweep the season series only four times since Roy Williams returned to Chapel Hill in 2003. Each time, the Tar Heels slammed into the Wolfpack, and Saturday was no different as Williams’ team built up its biggest halftime lead of the season in its 86-76 victory at Dean E. Smith Center.
The Tar Heels (10-5, 5-3 ACC) won for the fifth time in six games before entering their toughest part of ACC with four road games in their next five. UNC used its most effective half of the season to lead 43-33 at halftime and maintained a comfortable double-digit margin until late, when a 7-0 Wolfpack run cut the score to 72-66 with 4:24. .
The Tar Heels responded with a 14-8 gust over the next 3:48 to secure the victory.
Armando Bacot (17 points, 8 rebounds) and Day’Ron Sharpe (16 points, 10 rebounds) alternated by dominating the posts while Caleb Love made his solid play with 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting with five assists continued despite five times. Anthony Harris and RJ Davis also scored double figures and scored 10 points each. Devon Daniels led the Wolfpack with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
UNC shot a season high of 54.4 percent off the floor, while NCSU shot 47.0 percent. The tar heels outscored the Wolfpack 44-30 and took a 17-12 lead in the second-half points. NC State took a 17-10 lead in points of its turnover.
Offensive click
In the second half against Wake Forest on Wednesday, the Tar Heels reached a season high with their shooting effort of 54.8 percent (17-out-31). The highlight was short-lived as UNC shot 56.8 percent against NC State in the first half. The Tar Heels scored 43 points on 43 possessions in the first half, which were their best points per possession in the first half of the season.
UNC shot 51.6 percent after halftime to shoot for the first time all season, but he shot better than 50 percent in both halves of a game (only the eighth half shot better than 50 percent).
Fighting continues for Brooks
Senior forward Garrison Brooks conceded 1:20 to play with four points on 2-of-5 shooting and four rebounds. The ACC’s preseason player of the year averaged 9.0 points on 36.8 percent in eight ACC games this season.
A year ago, Brooks led the ACC in the score (18.8) and second place in the field goal percentage (53.5) in the conference.
History versus NC state
UNC has won 33 of its last 38 and 50 of its last 62 games against NC State. Roy Williams improves all the time to 38-5 against the Wolfpack.
The Tar Heels improved to 28-7 against NC State in the Smith Center and have won 16 of their last 18 at home in the series.
Highlight Play
ARMANDO. BACOT. REJECTION. pic.twitter.com/6nHT26xUmo
– Trevor William Marks (@twmarks_) 23 January 2021
Injury update
Puff Johnson did not play against the Wolfpack after suffering a toe injury on Friday. The freshman wing wears a protective boot on his right foot.
Sterling Manley also stayed in streetwear for the 15th game this season. The junior center missed 48 consecutive games due to a left knee injury.
Following
UNC begins a three-hour trip to Pittsburgh on Tuesday (19:00 / ACCN). The Panthers (8-2, 4-1 ACC) built their success on a solid defense, as they are second in ACC games in the effective field goal percentage defense (44.2).