UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Take Control in the 2nd Half and Hold Off the Hokies

by Derrick Clyburn

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The North Carolina basketball team showed some resiliency after a rocky first-half of the Quarter Finals against Va. Tech. They had problems defending the back screens down low that led to 16 first-half points for Va. Tech. The Tar Heels made the adjustments needed in the second half and wore down the Hokies.

The Tar Heels dominated the glass in the second half and outrebounded the Hokies 43 to 32. Armando Bacot took over on the inside with 17 points and 13 rebounds, and R.J. Davis took over from the perimeter with some good defensive play and led all Tar Heels with 19 points.

UNC Game Stats

1st     2nd     TOT

North Carolina 32      49      81

Virginia Tech  35      38      73

North Carolina

               Pts   FG    3FG     FT    REB     A       TO      Min     +/-

1 BLACK        8       3-7     2-4     0-0     3       3       1       30      12

2 LOVE         7       2-12    1-7     2-2     2       0       2       26      -1

5 BACOT        17      7-9     0-0     3-7     13      1       0       25      0

15 BROOKS      5       2-6     0-0     1-2     3       1       0       21      11

24 WALTON      8       2-4     1-2     3-6     4       1       1       25      6

0 HARRIS       3       1-3     0-1     1-2     0       3       1       10      -5

3 PLATEK       0       0-0     0-0     0-0     0       0       1       5       -1

4 DAVIS        19      6-10    4-7     3-3     4       1       2       24      10

11 SHARPE      10      4-7     0-0     2-2     5       2       2       21      8

13 KESSLER     4       1-5     0-0     2-3     7       0       0       12      0

TOTALS         81      28-63   8-21    17-27   43      12      11

                       44.4%   38.1%   63.0%

Virginia Tech

               Pts   FG    3FG     FT      REB     A       TO      Min     +/-

3 BEDE         0       0-5     0-1     0-0     3       7       1       31      -5

4 ALLEYNE      12      4-8     4-6     0-1     4       2       1       28      0

22 ALUMA       9       4-13    0-3     1-1     8       4       1       35      -10

23 RADFORD     20      8-13    0-0     4-4     6       1       1       36      -2

25 MUTTS       24      10-16   3-5     1-5     8       1       2       35      -10

0 CATTOOR      6       1-2     1-2     3-5     0       1       2       20      -6

1 BAMISILE     0       0-1     0-1     0-0     0       0       0       5       -11

5 N’GUESSAN    2       1-1     0-0     0-0     0       0       1       4       -3

35 PEMSL       0       0-1     0-0     0-0     1       1       1       5       7

TOTALS         73      28-60   8-18    9-16    32      17      11                  

46.7% 44.4% 56.3%

UNC Bright Spots

R.J. Davis had 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist.

Armando Bacot had 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

Day’Ron Sharpe had 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.

Needs Work

The Tar Heels need to cut down on their turnovers and must make better decisions with the ball. They had 8 turnovers in the first half, which is totally unacceptable.

Final Observations

The Tar Heels basketball team showed some toughness after getting beat up in the first half. They didn’t give in to Va. Tech’s aggression. North Carolina started pounding back at the Hokies. I like to see that fight in them.

Leaky Black gave UNC a much needed lift with two 3 pointers that kept Va. Tech at bay down the stretch. R.J. Davis has had two great games after struggling mightily during the 2nd half of the season. He has seemed to have found his stroke again, which helps him play better defense.

UNC now faces a rested Florida State team whom they split the regular season. Friday night at 9pm on ESPN.