TALLAHASSEE, Fla. . –– With a 75-68 win over Florida State earlier this afternoon, the Tar Heels have earned their 10th straight game.
North Carolina survived a tough test by the Seminoles, struggling with their shots and getting tripped up with turnovers in the first half. But this team has proven their strength in the second half and did a better job of creating the switch and playing as a unit.
Today was another indicator of their resolve as they overcame an eight-point deficit to pull away from FSU and hold onto the lead for the remainder of the game.
No.3-ranked UNC has advanced to 17-3 overall and boasts a 9-0 ACC record for the first time since the 2000-01 season. RJ Davis contributed his season average with 24 points, a performance that was supplemented by freshman guard Elliot Cadeau who served a season-high 16 points. Harrison Ingram’s trend of being
dominant on the glass has been unwavering, as he collected a team-high 17 rebounds along with 16 points.
The ceiling of this team lies in their backcourt and with Cadeau at point guard, he’s able to read the floor and feed Davis in important late game moments. He’s done it before, and he did it again today as his ‘pass first’ mentality gave UNC’s closer the opportunity to do what he does best: put the game away.
With 43 seconds left, Davis made a jumper to give the Tar Heels a four-point advantage, 72-68. Moments later, the ACC-leading free throw shooter—shooting at a 93.8 percent clip— made both of his attempts to seal his team’s victory.
North Carolina has one more road contest before returning to Chapel Hill to face Duke next Saturday,Feb.
They will play at Georgia Tech on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Under head coach Hubert Davis, UNC has won all three of their matches against the Yellow Jackets.
Game Notes:
- Carolina became the first team to win 750 regular-season ACC games.
- Carolina is 9-0 in the ACC for the ninth time, and the first time since starting 11-0 in league play in 2000-01.
- Carolina won its 10th straight game for the first time since winning 11 in a row in 2016-17 (the last six games) and 2017-18 (first five games).
- The Tar Heels are 5-0 on the road in ACC play.
- This was the fifth consecutive ACC road game this season the Tar Heels held the home team under 70 points. It is the longest-such streak since 1982. From 2/11/1980 to 1/23/1982 the Tar Heels allowed fewer than 70 points in 13 consecutive ACC road games (the Tar Heels went 10-3 in those games).
- Carolina won despite tying its season high with 17 turnovers (in the loss to Kentucky). The Seminoles scored 26 points off those turnovers, the most by an opponent this season (Kentucky scored 19).
- Carolina outrebounded FSU, 41-32, the ninth straight game UNC has outrebounded the opponents (won all nine). The Tar Heels are plus 122 on the boards in the nine games.
- Carolina has led by double digits in all nine ACC games. UNC beat the Seminoles by eight points at home and seven here in Tallahassee, the only two ACC games the Tar Heels have not won by double digits.
- Carolina has allowed 70 points or fewer in 10 straight games for the first time since 2006-07.
