CHAPEL HILL, NC – North Carolina withdrew from the conference on Wednesday night in a rare event in February to secure an 82-62 victory over Northeastern at the Smith Center.
UNC (13-7, 7-5 ACC) started a shaky start – after committing five times in their first ten possessions – to take control with a 9-0 shot and then the first half on a run of 13-4 closed to a 41-30 lead.
The tar heels led by double figures for just 15 seconds in the second half as the Huskies struggled to make enough shots to reduce their backlog. UNC fired 42.7 percent from the floor, while its opponent fired 35.6 percent. Northeast shot 33.3 from the 3-point line, but only 37.9 from the two-point distance.
UNC had significant advantages in three important statistical categories: points of turnover (22-6), second-chance points (18-7) and points in the paint (42-22). The tar heels exceeded the Huskies, 48-33 (17-8 OR).
Day’Ron Sharpe led UNC with 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting and Garrison Brooks scored his second double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Kerwin Walton (14) and Walker Kessler (season-high 10) each scored double figures, while Caleb Love added six points and a season-high nine assists.
The game, which took place on Wednesday, scheduled for Monday after the ACC was unable to find a replacement game for UNC for the postponed Virginia Tech game originally scheduled for Tuesday, was the last that the Tar Heels in 18 years in the regular season played in the regular season. .
Walker contains
It was the Tyson Walker show early in Smith Center as the All-CAA guard scored 19 of Northeastern’s first 21 points before season 19 through 7-of-8 goal-scoring attempts (4-of-5 3FG) off to strike. While his teammates struggled to shoot down, Roy Williams decided to flash Walker in front with traps to get the ball out of his hands.
The strategy worked. Walker was held to eight points during the last 26:25 game and finished with 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting (4-out-7 3FG).
Bank deliveries
Four days after Kessler led UNC when he struck off the bench in Virginia, the Tar Heel reserves were once again up against the Huskies. Andrew Platek and Sharpe were the leading scorers of UNC at halftime with nine points each, while RJ Davis and Kessler provided quality minutes.
The game continued into the second half when the Tar Heel bench outscored its counterpart, 38-10. UNC’s primary reserves shot 48.4 percent (15-out-31) and combined for 20 rebounds and six assists.
Injuries Sideline a Trio of Heels
Anthony Harris, Redshirt’s first-year guard, missed his 13th game of the season on Wednesday due to a concussion suffered at the loss in Virginia on Saturday. He is in a return-to-play protocol and therefore his status for this weekend’s match is being determined.
Newcomer wing Puff Johnson missed his sixth straight game with a right foot injury. Junior center Sterling Manley was hesitant to play, but eventually missed his 53rd game after having to undergo surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee.
Following
UNC is scheduled to host Louisville on Saturday for a tip at 6 p.m. (ESPN). However, the Cardinals have not played since February 1 and their game against Syracuse was postponed on Wednesday due to the ongoing COVID-19 issues within the program.