Charleston vs. North Carolina – Game Recap – November 11, 2022 – ESPN

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — — Armando Bacot began setting his ft, sealing off defenders and demanding the ball inside. His teammates complied. And that is what lastly received top-ranked North Carolina rolling offensively in opposition to the Faculty of Charleston.

It additionally helped that coach Hubert Davis received the response he wished after a “smooth” first half, too.

Bacot had all however one in all his 28 factors after halftime to assist UNC push previous Charleston 102-86 on Friday evening. The 6-foot-11 preseason Related Press All-American received only one shot try in a gap half that set the tone for an offensively pushed recreation with neither crew constantly stringing collectively stops.

The Tar Heels (2-0) seemingly needed to outscore the Cougars (1-1) after trailing at halftime in addition to reply to bodily play. Getting Bacot established helped each.

“He caught the ball the place he wished to,” Davis mentioned. “He outworked whoever defended him to catch the ball as shut as he may to the basket. His strikes had been definitive and powerful, and he both scored or received fouled. I used to be very pleased with him.”

Bacot went 10 for 12 from the sector after the break.

“I nonetheless suppose my strategy has received to be higher. I did not suppose I performed an excellent recreation in the present day. I do not know, I suppose it is one thing I’ve received to suppose on and simply take a look at movie and see what I have to work on and simply get higher at it,” he mentioned.

Caleb Love added 25 factors for the Tar Heels, who made 20 of 28 photographs (71.4%) after halftime and completed the sport capturing 60%.

Dalton Bolon scored 14 of his 16 factors earlier than halftime for Charleston, which led by eight factors within the first half and 50-43 at halftime.

The Cougars shot almost 53% within the first 20 minutes and hovered effectively past 50% till fading within the ultimate minutes because the Tar Heels lastly asserted management. Coach Pat Kelsey mentioned his crew knew “the storm was coming” however stored battling.

“Our guys withstood a few these runs, in order that resilience was one thing thrilling and one thing actually good to see,” he mentioned. “Clearly that final tsunami on the finish, it was type of recreation over from there.”

BIG PICTURE

Charleston: Picked to complete fourth within the Colonial Athletic Affiliation, the Cougars scored 85 factors with 9 3-pointers of their opener to beat Chattanooga and confirmed loads of offensive punch once more. They repeatedly beat the Tar Heels off the dribble, together with having their guards muscle UNC’s backcourt of Love and RJ Davis within the paint. Finally, although, they misplaced their twelfth straight recreation in opposition to ranked opponents.

UNC: The Tar Heels labored by way of their opener in opposition to UNC Wilmington with a efficiency that Bacot known as “rusty” and Davis hoped was simply “first-game anxiousness and nervousness.” This one appeared higher from an offensive standpoint whereas Davis thought the crew responded higher defensively after halftime. Nonetheless, the Tar Heels did not go forward for good till halfway by way of the second half.

“One of many issues we talked lots about at halftime, I informed them there’s nowhere to go,” Davis mentioned. “There isn’t any exit route. there is no stairs, there is no door. You are going to have to remain in there and you are going to should compete.”

TIP-INS

Charleston entered 6-27 in opposition to ranked groups, with the final win coming at Baylor in November 2012. … UNC has been outrebounded in every of its first two video games. … The Tar Heels made 27 of 38 free throws in comparison with 6 of 9 for the Cougars. … Charleston made 2 of 10 3-pointers after halftime. … Love had 9 rebounds and 6 assists for UNC, whereas Leaky Black had 15 factors. … Ante Brzovic had 12 of his 15 factors earlier than halftime for the Cougars.

UP NEXT

Charleston: The Cougars host Richmond on Monday evening.

UNC: The Tar Heels host Gardner-Webb on Tuesday evening.

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Observe Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

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AP faculty basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP–Top25