UNC snaps four-game losing streak with victory over UCLA in CBS Sports Classic
North Carolina entered Saturday’s game against UCLA battered and beaten down.
The Tar Heels had lost four consecutive games and five of their past six. But on Saturday, against a UCLA team that has had some struggles of its own, the Tar Heels found life.
They jumped out to a 13-point halftime and held on to win 74-64 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at the CBS Sports Classic.
UNC freshman forward Armando Bacot led the Tar Heels with 15 points and 12 rebounds, and freshman guard Anthony Harris had 14 points.
Saturday’s game was basically a must-win for the Tar Heels as they continue to pursue their 10th consecutive NCAA tournament berth.
That streak is in jeopardy, as the Tar Heels were ranked No. 95 in the NCAA’s first NET rankings. Fortunately for the Tar Heels, it is still early in the season.
Early on in Saturday’s game, the Tar Heels did not look good. They struggled to get easy buckets, which has been a theme all season. They missed 13 of their first 18 shots.
But after UCLA tied the score at 19 with 5:54 left in the first half, the Tar Heels stepped up. They went on a 17-4 run and took a 13-point lead heading into halftime.
The run was highlighted by two 3-pointers from senior guard Brandon Robinson and a 3-pointer from freshman guard Jeremiah Francis.
Robinson, who missed the second half of UNC’s game against Gonzaga with an illness on Wednesday, returned against UCLA and played well in the first half.
He led the Tar Heels with nine first-half points at the break, all of which were 3s.
It also helped that UCLA was awful in the first half. The Bruins committed 14 turnovers before halftime, some of which were unforced — passes their players either couldn’t handle or traveling violations.
However, two quick turnovers and a few missed shots allowed the Bruins to open up the second half on a 12-0 run and cut the Tar Heels’ lead to one.
The Tar Heels eventually settled down. They extended their lead back to seven points with 11:35 left in the game, and the Bruins never got closer than four points.
“I didn’t think we were competing,” UNC coach Roy Williams said, when asked his message to his team after UCLA’s 12-0 run. “I asked them did they want me to go get their momma.”
The Tar Heels led by as many as 16 points in the second half.
And One
UNC’s younger reserves are showing promise. Francis had a few good moments in the first half. And Harris caught fire in the second.
Harris got his hands in passing lanes and scored all 14 of his points in the second half. He was 5 of 7 from the floor, and 2 of 3 from 3-point range.
Francis had 12 points and four assists but also had four turnovers.
Both players were playing in their fourth games this season, after starting the season injured.
Personal foul
The Tar Heels allowed their 13-point halftime lead to evaporate in just four minutes. They missed their first two shots, two free throws and committed three turnovers in that span.
It was ugly basketball based on anyone’s standards.
Meanwhile, UCLA made 4 of 7 shots and cut the Tar Heels’ lead to 36-35.
The Tar Heels finished with 17 turnovers.
ICYMI
This was the third consecutive game UNC is playing without Cole Anthony, who is out for at least a month as he recovers from a knee procedure he had performed earlier last week.
Anthony leads Tar Heels with 19.1 points per game this season.
Making sense of the numbers
23: The number of turnovers UCLA committed. Those turnovers led to 24 points for the Tar Heels.
19: UCLA’s 3-point percentage. The Tar Heels defended the perimeter well, contesting 3-point shots. The Bruins only made four 3-pointers.
16: The Tar Heels’ fast break points. It was a season-high. Most of those fastbreak came from points off turnovers.
This story was originally published December 21, 2019 at 5:21 PM.
