The Tar Heels’ defense hasn’t always been consistent, but it was there when they needed it as they topped Pittsburgh 88-71 to advance to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament Thursday.

After falling behind 8-0 to open the game, UNC locked down the Panthers at the end of the first half to capture the lead. Over the last four minutes of the first half the Tar Heels scored 10 consecutive points.

“Well it made me not go crazy as I was going to go at halftime that’s for sure,” said head coach Roy Williams. “We did stop them on six straight possessions.”

Brice Johnson

Brice Johnson. (Photo by Todd Melet)

The second half began as a back-and-forth struggle, until UNC turned it on again defensively and outscored the Panthers 12-1 from 10:48 to 6:22.

Unexpectedly leading the charge was freshmen shooting guard Kenny Williams, who hit his first three pointer of the season during that stretch. He had been 0-12 coming into the game.

Roy Williams said he was impressed with his freshman’s effort defensively on Pitts’ leading scorer Jamel Artis.

“We’re not saying Kenny is going to guard Jamel Artis like that the whole game,” he said. “But he never got to the basket against him for three straight possessions and I think that was big for us.”

On the other side of the ball, Brice Johnson and Joel Berry combined for some of the most efficient offense the Tar Heels could ask for.

The two combined to go 15-19 from the field for 39 points, but Berry credits his 7-8 from the field to the work done by his big men.

“We were able to get the ball inside,” Berry said. “Brice gave us a big lift, Isaiah came in and gave us a big lift, so just having that balance of the inside-outside attack, that helped us out a lot. When Brice is scoring in the post like that it helps us out a lot.”

The Tar Heels will play Friday night at 7 against Notre Dame, which rallied from 16 points behind in the second half to defeat Duke in overtime, 84-79. UNC lost to the Irish in South Bend, 80-76, in their only meeting during the regular season.

Make sure to tune in to WCHL for play-by-play from every ACC Tournament game.

Complete Boxscore

 

Related Stories
‹
Micah Ojo, No. 6 Prospect in 2027 Recruiting Class, Commits to UNC Women's Basketball
Micah Ojo, who ESPN rates as a five-star prospect and the No. 6 overall recruit in the 2027 class, announced her commitment to head coach Courtney Banghart and UNC Thursday. Ojo also held offers from Duke and Vanderbilt. View this post on Instagram A 6-foot-1 wing originally from Virginia Beach, Ojo is described by ESPN […]
The Morning News: Faith Hedgepeth Murder Trial, Gas Tax Suspension, UNC Basketball
In today's news: yesterday was day one of the trial of Miguel Salguero-Olivares for the 2012 murder of Faith Hedgepeth.
On Air Today: Michael Koh Breaks Down UNC at the ACC Tipoff in Charlotte
The Hill and Chapelboro.com Sports Reporter Michael Koh spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, October 7. He discussed UNC at the ACC Tipoff in Charlotte. Head Coach Michael Malone was joined by players Jarin Stephenson and Neo Avadalas for media availability. Michael shared key takeaways from the Malone and the players, including why these particular players were chosen to come to the event, and more. He also discussed the quick turnaround to the first exhibition game, which will be Friday night in Greensboro.
Breaking Down Michael Malone's Challenge to Jarin Stevenson, UNC's Gentle Giant
Earlier in the offseason, a fellow reporter and I were discussing Tar Heel senior forward Jarin Stevenson. As the team’s only returning starter and one of the only familiar faces fans can latch on to after an offseason of upheaval, he projects to be a key player for UNC in 2026-27. That prominent role, plus […]
UNC Men's Basketball vs. USC (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC fans will get their first look at head coach Michael Malone’s Tar Heels Friday night when Carolina takes on USC in a preseason exhibition at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. It’s UNC’s first game of any kind in Greensboro since the 2023 ACC Tournament. If you aren’t making the trip to the game, here’s […]
The Morning News: Trails, Trials, and Property Revaluations
In today's news: nonprofits work to transform Chapel Hill's Lower Booker Creek Trail, and Orange County reexamines its property revaluation.
Are They Eligible? Keeping Up with UNC's Rece Verhoff, Cameron Fens and Others
Student-athletes across the country are currently embroiled in an eligibility fight against the NCAA. The athletes, who graduated high school in 2022, are seeking a fifth year of eligibility under the NCAA’s new rules. However, the NCAA is countering that the rule only applies to students currently in college from the 2026-27 academic year forward. […]
UNC Men's Basketball Releases 2026-27 ACC Schedule
The ACC revealed the men’s basketball league schedule for the 2026-27 season Wednesday afternoon. UNC’s league games begin Dec. 30 and end March 6. Mark your calendars 📅 pic.twitter.com/BXaZ7OHdJd — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 9, 2026 The Tar Heels will begin conference play by hosting Cal at the Smith Center Wednesday, Dec. 30. Carolina is […]
Michael Malone Announces Full UNC Men's Basketball Coaching Staff
Michael Malone and the UNC men’s basketball program have officially announced the full coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, Malone’s first as head coach of the Tar Heels. Official. pic.twitter.com/KmX5Ct793x — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 3, 2026 The staff features three holdovers from former head coach Hubert Davis’ staff: Sean May and Pat Sullivan will […]
'Something Much Bigger than Myself': Highlights from Michael Malone's Sep. 3 Press Conference
UNC men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone met with the media at the Dean Smith Center Thursday morning. In his comments, Malone addressed eligibility issues around center Cameron Fens, the shifting legal landscape around college sports, his coaching style and more. Read highlights from the press conference, which have been lightly edited for clarity, below: […]
›