In perhaps its most impressive performance of this young season, the No. 4 UNC men’s basketball team toyed with the Oklahoma State Cowboys Tuesday night on the way to a 107-75 blowout victory—earning a berth in the Maui Invitational Championship Game as a result.

At the rate the Tar Heels have put up points during their 6-0 start, fans in the Dean Dome may have visions of a winter filled with Bojangles biscuits—the prize given when UNC scores 100 points.

Six players reached double figures on Tuesday, as the team raced out to a double-digit lead in the first four minutes against Oklahoma State and never once looked back, surpassing the milestone for the second straight night.

It was an encouraging sign given that the Cowboys were the first opponent from a Power Five conference UNC had played all season—not to mention the fact that they entered Tuesday’s matchup having scored at least 98 points in each of their first four games.

Oklahoma State's Jawun Evans (left) scored 30 points, but didn't have enough help to overcome the balanced Tar Heel attack. (AP Photo/ Rick Bowmer)

Oklahoma State’s Jawun Evans (left) scored 30 points, but didn’t have enough help to overcome the balanced Tar Heel attack. (AP Photo/ Rick Bowmer)

Led by star guard Jawun Evans’ 30-point barrage, Oklahoma State never once lacked in the effort department.

The Cowboys simply didn’t have the depth that Tar Heel head coach Roy Williams had at his disposal.

“They got our focus,” Williams said of his opponents “That’s encouraging to see how we can do when we really focus and play at that same energy level.

“But I will say it again,” the coach continued. “Oklahoma State was so good we felt like we had to play extremely hard, extremely intelligent and really well to have a chance—and we did, for the most part, do that all night.”

After struggling to find his shot over UNC’s last two games, junior point guard Joel Berry responded with a career-high 24 points while wing Justin Jackson continued his strong start to the year with 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists himself.

Despite the abundance of talent on the Tar Heel roster, opposing coaches would likely point to those two players as the most important to UNC’s offensive attack.

This, Berry said after the game, only helps make life easier for everyone else—evidenced by the two combining for 10 of the team’s 16 assists on the night.

“Being at the top of the scouting report going into each game, I think me and Justin—that’ll be something familiar for us,” Berry said. “So, seeing that we have six guys in double figures they just can’t key in on us.

“They have to be ready for everybody else,” he continued. “That leads to more opportunities for us.”

All three of UNC’s healthy big men—Isaiah Hicks, Kennedy Meeks and freshman Tony Bradley—scored at least 10 points while senior guard Nate Britt chipped in 12 off the bench.

Sophomore Kenny Williams—who earned his nine points on a trio of three-pointers—may have also joined the club had he not left the game for a brief period after colliding with an Oklahoma State player.

It was the type of collective domination that has many wondering if the Tar Heels should be among the favorites to win a national championship later this season.

That kind of talk is something Jackson and the rest of the team will have a tough time shying away from if UNC continues this level of play as the games get tougher.

Justin Jackson posted his best numbers of the season on Tuesday, scoring 22 points while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing six assists. (AP Photo/ Rick Bowmer)

Justin Jackson posted his best numbers of the season on Tuesday, scoring 22 points while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing six assists. (AP Photo/ Rick Bowmer)

“Clicking on all cylinders—that’s a scary term because it’s only the sixth game of the season,” Jackson told reporters. “To look down here and see six people in double figures, that’s pretty crazy against a really good team.

“I think we can still get a whole lot better,” he continued. “And I know Coach thinks the same exact thing. But right now, I think we’re playing really well.”

If this game was the Tar Heels’ hypothetical tune-up for the road ahead—a span that includes a Maui Championship matchup on Wednesday with No. 16 Wisconsin and future contests against ranked teams like Indiana and Kentucky—it’s safe to say they aced the test.

Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson aren’t walking through the door for UNC this season, but Joel Berry and the rest of this Tar Heel squad are. It hasn’t taken long to realize that’s more than enough for this team to meet expectations and then some.

“The first five games, they were mediocre games,” Berry said. “But tonight I think we showed that we have the team to be able to compete with high-caliber teams.

“Going into tomorrow I think we’ll be ready,” he added. “And if we come out with a win I think it’ll be great for us down the road just to show that we can play against top teams.”

Up Next:

The Tar Heels return to action on Wednesday night (9:30 p.m) against No. 16 Wisconsin in a rematch of a 2015 NCAA Sweet 16 matchup won by the Badgers.

Game Notes:

  • It was the first time UNC has scored 100+ points in consecutive games since Dec. 29, 2011 (Elon 100-62) and Jan. 1, 2012 (Monmouth 102-65).
  • The Tar Heels shot 57.8 percent from the floor on Tuesday, while converting on 25 of their 29 attempts from the free throw line.
  • UNC’s defense forced Oklahoma State into 14 turnovers, while limiting the Cowboys to just five assists.

 

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