UNC Uses First Half Scoring Burst to Beat Tennessee

What a game for UNC!

North Carolina came out hot against Tennessee. The Heels used multiple runs to build an early lead. There was nothing the Vols could do to slow UNC down. However, Tennessee almost came back, using an impressive offensive performance of its own.

First Half Fire

It looked like Carolina basketball. The Tar Heels were up and down the court, scoring at will. Tennessee came into the game with the number-one defense in the country. UNC must not have heard about it. Both in the post and around the perimeter, Carolina was clicking. The way the ball was being shared and scored was unlike anything UNC has done since the 2022 tournament run.

Just Enough

Although Carolina came out of halftime with a 61-39 lead, the Vols weren’t ready to give up. They fought their way back into the game, particularly Dalton Knecht. He scored 37 points and had to leave the game with an injury. Had he been able to go, he would’ve likely broken the Smith Center record for points by an opposing player. The 21-point halftime lead was down to six with just 1:39 left. Luckily, that first-half outburst was enough to keep the lead for a 100-92 win.

Top Players

R.J. Davis- 27 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists.

Cormac Ryan- 15 points.

Harrison Ingram- 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals.

Elliot Cadeau- 5 points, 10 assists(!), 0 turnover(!!!).

Armando Bacot- 22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists.

Next up is Florida State at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

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