by Matt Bowers, UNC Athletic Communications
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.–Armando Bacot broke another rebounding record and his teammates hit a season-high 15 three-pointers as North Carolina dominated The Citadel, 100-67, on Tuesday night in the Smith Center.
Bacot finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds for his 55th career double-double and his sixth this season. He snapped the UNC career record for most double-digit rebound games with his 62nd such effort, breaking a tie with Hall-of-Famer Billy Cunningham (61).
Caleb Love hit a season-high four three-pointers, scored 17 points on 6 of 10 shooting overall and had a season-high six assists. Pete Nance hit three from behind the arc and finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Tyler Nickel hit a season-high three triples and scored a season-high 16 points. Sophomore Dontrez Styles also posted a season scoring high, netting nine points on 3 of 4 shooting while also grabbing six rebounds.
The Tar Heels shared the ball (24 assists on 32 baskets), shot well from outside throughout (hitting 15 of 31 three-pointers) and overpowered the Bulldogs inside (out-rebounding The Citadel by a 47-31 margin). UNC’s bench outscored the Bulldog reserves, 42-18.
“I really feel like being at home the last week-and-a-half has really helped us in terms of becoming a better basketball team, because we’ve been here and we’ve been able to practice,” Carolina head coach Hubert Davis said after the game. “In the week and a half that we’ve been here, we’re playing better defense, we’re rebounding better. We had 24 assists, so we’re making the extra pass, we’re shooting better. So does that mean that we’re exactly where we need to be? No. But I feel like we’re moving in the right direction.”
Jackson Price and Stephen Clark each led The Citadel with 15 points. The UNC defense limited the Bulldogs to 40.3 percent shooting in the game, including 39.5 percent after halftime.
It was Carolina’s second consecutive victory after also beating Georgia Tech on Saturday. UNC improved to 7-4 this season, while the Bulldogs fell to 5-5.
The Tar Heels scored a season-high 48 points in the first half, compiling 13 assists on 14 baskets and closing the opening period on an 11-2 run. Carolina blew open the game in the second half, eventually expanding its lead to as many as 36 points with an even-better 52 second-half points.
The Tar Heels will return to action against Ohio State on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City in the CBS Sports Classic.
Notes:
• UNC improved to 20-0 against The Citadel in its history. UNC’s 20 wins without a loss in the series are the most in school history without a defeat against any opponent.
• The Tar Heels are now 457-84 in 38 seasons playing in the Dean Smith Center, including 223-18 against non-ACC opponents. Carolina has won 12 consecutive home games against non-conference foes.
• Thirteen Tar Heel players scored in the game, a season high.
• Carolina’s biggest lead of the night was 36 points at the 39:48 mark of the second half. That is UNC’s largest lead in any game this season through 11 games (previous was 21 against James Madison).
• The Tar Heels dished out 24 assists in the game, a season high (the previous high was 17 against Portland on Thanksgiving).
• UNC’s next three games will be away from Chapel Hill—Dec. 17 vs. Ohio State in New York City at the CBS Sports Classic, Dec. 21 vs. Michigan in Charlotte at the Jumpman Invitational and Dec. 30 at Pittsburgh.
• Carolina’s next home game will be on January 4 against Wake Forest.
