CHAPEL HILL, NC – Armando Bacot scored a pair of crucial pole baskets in the final 1:22 to help North Carolina secure an 81-75 victory over Syracuse at the Smith Center on Tuesday night.
In a racing game, UNC (8-4, 3-2) made the last punch with a 10-2 shot in the last three minutes to retake the lead. Tar Heels hit 8 out of 9 free throws to close the game and win his third consecutive ACC match.
The UNC opened the second half with a 9-0 run, only to be countered by Syracuse’s 13-0 response. Tar Heels matched Orange with a 13-0 shot and, a few minutes later, the visiting team orchestrated a series of 8-0 to take the lead 68-67 with 3:21 left.
The UNC fired 39.7 percent from the ground, marking the third consecutive time that it did not reach the 40 percent limit. Orange hit 46.7 percent in 13 fewer attempts. The UNC averaged 1.17 points for possession against 1.09 for Syracuse.
Tar Heels beat his opponent 48-31. His differential of 18 to 10 assists was the biggest of the season.
Owning Paint
With pivot Bourama Sidibe still out on the pitch after damaging his meniscus in November, Jim Boeheim relied on Marek Dolezaj, 1.80 meters and 201 pounds, to once again occupy the middle of his zone. UNC’s emphasis on hitting the ball down yielded Garrison Brooks’ best performance of the season as the pre-season ACC Player of the Year, marking his first double-double with 16 points from 5 of 12 shots and 10 rebounds.
Bacot (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Day’Ron Sharpe (8 points, 4 rebounds) were also the beneficiaries. Tar Heels recovered 53.3 percent from its failures and overcame Orange, 24-4, on second chance points.
Leaky Black Locks Down
Buddy Boeheim illuminated UNC in the first half, scoring 18 points out of 7 out of 12 shots (4 out of 7 3FG). Leaky Black (5 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists) increased his defensive effort after the break and closed Boeheim, keeping Syracuse junior goalless in three field goal attempts in 20 minutes.
Harris close to return
The most intriguing development on Tuesday was about a player who didn’t really play. Second-year guard Anthony Harris dressed for the first time this season, signaling a potential comeback in the coming days. The Woodbridge native, Virginia, has not played since he tore his ACL against Yale on December 30, 2019.
Note Tweet
UNC’s 24 offensive rebounds were the maximum against an ACC team since the overthrow of 24 against Pittsburgh on February 25, 2017. https://t.co/PMXwBuRxFR
– Pat James (@ patjames24) January 13, 2021
End of half of the collapse
Tar Heels led 36-26 with 3:51 remaining in the first half, when Williams implemented a four-player substitution, replacing Black-Davis-Sharpe-Brooks with Love-Platek-Bacot-Kessler alongside Kerwin Walton. Syracuse took advantage of a 10-2 run in the next 2:05, scoring in four of their next five possessions.
Orange closed the interval with 14-4, making six of the last seven goal attempts.
Next
UNC heads to Tallahassee to play in the state of Florida on Saturday, marking its fourth street game in six ACC games. The Seminoles (5-2, 1-1 ACC) have lost two of their last three after winning four in a row to open the season.