UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis discusses the Tar Heels’ win at NC State
Following UNC basketball’s victory at NC State, head coach Hubert Davis discussed the Tar Heels’ performance, including Harrison Ingram’s stellar effort.
RALEIGH – Another road test, another ace for UNC basketball.
With their 67–54 victory at NC State, the seventh-ranked Tar Heels earned their third consecutive ACC road win to take sole possession of first place in the conference standings.
UNC (12-3, 4-0 ACC) turned in another impressive defensive effort and finished with an impressive flurry against the Wolfpack (11-4, 3-1) at PNC Arena. In each of the Tar Heels’ road wins, they have held their opponents to under 40% shooting. RJ Davis scored a game-high 16 points for UNC.
UNC limited NC State to 26.9% shooting, the fourth-lowest field goal percentage against an ACC opponent and the lowest against the Wolfpack since at least 1954. This is the fewest points allowed against NC State since 2001. UNC held one team under 60 points. Three straight road games for the first time since 1998–99.
Here are some other observations from UNC’s win against NC State in Raleigh.
RJ Davis takes UNC basketball’s final lead
NC State had the momentum after cutting UNC’s lead to 46–44 midway through the second half, but the Tar Heels responded with a 15–4 run to take a 13-point lead with six minutes remaining and then Never looked back. Davis provided the Daggers with a 3-pointer to give UNC a 17-point lead with four minutes remaining. After missing seven of his nine shots in the first half, Davis had 11 points in the second half.
Different Tar Heels: Inside a conversation with Hubert Davis about what’s changed for UNC basketball and the Tar Heels
Harrison Ingram was everywhere for the Tar Heels
Harrison Ingram had 11 rebounds in the first 16 minutes and finished with a career-high 19 boards (the most for any UNC player against NC State). After grabbing 15 rebounds in the win at Pitt, Ingram has double-digit rebounds in two of the last three games. Last season at Stanford, Ingram did not have a game with double-digit boards. He has three to 15 games at UNC.
Elliot Cadue, Seth Trimble Get It and Go
After failing to record fast-break points at Clemson, UNC had an 18–8 advantage in transition against NC State. After the Wolfpack cut their deficit to two points midway through the second half, second-year guard Seth Trimble had a personal 5-0 run, including two layups at the break. Freshman guard Elliot Cadeau had 11 points and six assists as the Tar Heels pushed the pace to pull away from the pack.
Offensive offense for UNC, NC State
During a media timeout in the first half, a dog made two of three baskets on a mini hoop. The Dawgs were far more efficient than the Tar Heels or Wolfpack as the teams combined to shoot 32%. After finishing with 10 turnovers at Clemson, UNC had seven turnovers in the first 20 minutes against State. The Wolfpack missed its first 10 3-point attempts, but made 10 free throws which gave UNC a 30–28 lead at halftime.
Staff writer Rod Baxley can be reached at [email protected] or @RoddBaxley at X/Twitter.
