CHAPEL HILL, NC – After 14 comebacks leading to the second worst interval deficit of the season in North Carolina (41-29), striker Walker Kessler exploded in the second half to lead the UNC to a great 78-70 victory over the In the 11 State of Florida. The 7-foot player finished with 20 points, the best of his career, in 9 out of 10 shots, eight rebounds and four blocks.
UNC (15-8, 9-5 ACC) shot 25 percent (7-28 FG) in the first half and his 14 turnovers led to 15 points for the Seminoles (14-4, 10-3 ACC). In the second half, Tar Heels threw 50 percent off the ground (16-32 FG) and hit 14 free throws. They drained their 18 final attempts from the charity streak to finish 27 of 30 (90 percent) of the free-throw line. RJ Davis, Caleb Love and Kerwin Walton threw 9 out of 34 from the floor and 5 out of 21 from outside the arc, but hit 14 out of 14 on the free-throw line. They combined for 37 points.
There was a noticeable change in the UNC’s defensive energy in the second half. This forced 12 turns in the second half that contributed to 15 points for the game. Tar Heels ‘victory marks the 900th of Roy Williams’ head coach career, making him the fastest coach to reach the 900 point mark. It is also the biggest return of the range at the Dean E. Smith Center since 2006 for UNC.
Watch and read everything the head coach of the Hall of Fame told members of the media after the historic victory: