The No. 7 UNC men’s basketball team closed out its non-conference schedule in resounding fashion on Monday night at the Dean Dome, defeating the UNC-Greensboro Spartans 96-63.

The Tar Heels came out of the gates strong as they improved to 11-2, quickly building a double-digit lead.

However, they allowed the pesky Spartans—now 4-9 on the year—to stick around with the long ball. After missing its first eight attempts from beyond the arc, UNC-Greensboro connected on nine of its next 18—helping cut a 19-point halftime deficit down to 11 with 11 minutes remaining.

UNC was unable to run away until the game's final ten minutes. (Todd Melet)

UNC was unable to run away until the game’s final ten minutes. (Todd Melet)

Poor defense around the perimeter has become a theme for the Tar Heels, which is a bit unsettling for their head coach, Roy Williams.

“I keep saying to ‘em, ‘Nobody’s ever been the best team unless they guarded people,” Williams said after the game. “And we’re causing a little bit of it because we’re scrambling and gambling a little bit more.

“The more you gamble, the more you open up opportunities for both teams,” the coach continued. “You can open up opportunities for your own team to get turnovers, but when you do scramble you open up some shots because you’ve got two guys guarding one of theirs.”

A pair of freshmen guards, Francis Alonso and Demetrius Troy, combined for 31 points and eight of the nine Spartan threes—something that seemed to bother everyone in the Tar Heel locker room.

But with that complaint aired, Williams was in a positive mood overall with the way his team closed out this early portion of its schedule.

“The game right before the first conference game, if you’re ‘supposed to win’ it’s always a difficult game,” Williams said. “And I think we got through it fine.”

Senior forward Brice Johnson again led the way for the Tar Heels, picking up 16 points and 16 rebounds on his way to yet another double-double—his seventh of the season.

Only four of those points came in the first half though, as Johnson had to work himself back into the game mentally. He then used a pair of thunderous slams after the break to get he and the team’s momentum back on track so they could pull away late.

“Sometimes I get too frustrated with myself and it just psyches me out,” Johnson said. “At halftime I was just like ‘Hey calm down, just play your game, you’re fine.’

UNC Men's Basketball

The Tar Heel bench erupts after a big play. (Todd Melet)

“That worked out for me,” he added. “Then I started having more fun out there.”

Justin Jackson added 14 points, and so did Marcus Paige, who was held to just 21 minutes as he recovers from a jammed ankle he suffered last Monday against Appalachian State.

In total, six Tar Heels reached double figures while another—sophomore Theo Pinson—had eight.

It was a solid all-around performance from nearly everyone involved, which is what excites Jackson heading into the meat of the season.

“We have so many guys,” Jackson said. “We’re so deep. Brice has been playing extremely well the past three or four games, but outside of that, I mean we’ve got guys that can step up every single game.

“You have no idea,” he continued. “One person can have 20 one game, another person can have 20 the next game.”

Photos from UNC vs UNCG

Up Next:

Conference play opens at the Smith Center on Wednesday, as UNC hosts the Clemson Tigers in a rematch of the ACC Football Championship from earlier in the month.

Game Notes:

  • The Spartans were coached by former Tar Heel Wes Miller, who has another Tar Heel alum–Jackie Manuel–as one of his assistants.
  • In December, the Tar Heels are averaging 92 points per game, but have yet to earn fans free biscuits by hitting 100.
  • Brice Johnson is the only UNC player to have scored in double figures in each of the team’s 13 games.
  • Coach Williams said he still has no idea when junior forward Kennedy Meeks (bone bruise on left knee) will be back in the lineup.

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