For the fourth time in conference play, the Tar Heels went on the road, and emerged victorious, this time taking down Boston College 76-66 in Conte Forum. The win keeps Carolina perfect on the road, and in the ACC, as they are 7-0 for the first time since 2015-16, and the twelfth time overall. R.J. Davis was one of four Tar Heel starters to reach double figures, as he led the way with 16 points, on 5-14 shooting. He was only 2-7 from deep, but he tied a school record, of making multiple three-pointers in 15 straight games. Carolina only shot 45% from the field, and 29% from behind the arc, but made up for it, by shooting 81% from the foul line (21-26), and winning the rebounding margin 43-28. Harrison Ingram overcame a rough day from the floor, to score 11 points, but he grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, to earn his fourth double-double as a Tar Heel.
The Tar Heels found themselves down 31-30 in the final minute of the first half, before a 4-0 run to end the half, gave them a 34-31 halftime lead. To start the second half, UNC would go on a 6-0 run, to make it a 40-31 lead, to establish early control in the second stanza. While Boston College wouldn’t go away, they’d never get it closer than a two-point game, as Carolina refused to relinquish control of the ball game.
Not only is Carolina 7-0 in league play, but they’ve also held each ACC opponent to 70 points or fewer, as they’ve become a defensive force. The Eagles shot 35% from the floor, but just 18% from deep, as they were unable to gain any offensive traction against Carolina. Quinten Post led BC with 19 points on 5-13 shooting, but he didn’t get the necessary help to upset the #4 team in the country.
Like Wednesday night, Hubert Davis was pleased with the outcome, more than with the way his team played. But as we’ve learned in the early going of conference play in and around college basketball, winning on the road isn’t easy, and the fact that this team continues to do just that, further establishes this group as a national title contender:
Second Half Bacot: After a scoreless first half, Bacot responded with 10 second-half points, as he fell one rebound short of a double-double. Bacot battled foul trouble in the first half and even picked up his third foul early in the second half. Hubert Davis trusted the fifth-year senior, and he rewarded him with those 10 points. It’s hard to imagine Carolina winning today, without Bacot’s production over the final twenty minutes.
Rebounding: Entering today’s action, Carolina has emerged as the best rebounding team in ACC games, and they looked the part once again this afternoon. Carolina outrebounded BC 43-28, the 8th straight opponent Carolina has outrebounded. UNC grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, which they converted into 11 second-chance points. Meanwhile, they limited the Eagles to only 5 offensive rebounds and six second-chance points. Harrison Ingram led the way with 13 rebounds, followed by the 9 from Bacot. Davis added 6, as the trio of Ingram, Bacot, and Davis combined to bring down 28 of the 43 total rebounds.
Defending Without Fouling: There’s no denying that Carolina was better defensively today than they were against Louisville earlier in the week. They could’ve been much better, had they finished possessions without fouling. Boston College was 25-29 from the foul line, and when they weren’t living at the foul line, their offense was that much harder to come by. Hubert Davis expressed his desire for his team to improve in that department on Friday when he met with the media, and he won’t be relenting any after today’s game.
Free Throws: While Boston College lived at the foul line, the Tar Heels got their themselves, going 21-26. Entering the game, UNC ranked inside the top 15 in terms of made fouls shots per game, and attempts per game, and they got back to that today,
Boston College Dominance: Carolina is now 17-8 in the last 18 games against Boston College, and they are 10-1 at Conte Forum, having won 8 straight.
Up Next: Carolina is back in action on Monday night when they host Big Four opponent Wake Forest at the Smith Center. The game is set to tip at 7 PM on ESPN.
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