The recent streak of hot shooting continued for the UNC men’s basketball team on Wednesday at the Dean Dome, as the Tar Heels defeated the Wake Forest Demon Deacons by a score of 93-83 on Senior Night for their third consecutive victory.

Just three days after making a season-high 11 three-pointers in a road win at Syracuse, the Tar Heels connected on 10 of their 17 attempts from deep on their way to a wire-to-wire victory against Wake Forest—avenging a blowout loss suffered in Winston-Salem three weeks ago.

UNC (13-17, 6-13 ACC) also shot 51 percent from the floor for the game and a staggering 64 percent in the second half to keep Wake Forest (13-16, 6-13 ACC) from ever mounting a serious challenge down the stretch.

Leading the charge for head coach Roy Williams were freshman point guard Cole Anthony and junior forward Garrison Brooks.

Anthony tallied a team-high 28 points and seven assists while making four of his five three-pointers. Brooks, meanwhile, had yet another monster night in the paint with 25 points and seven rebounds as freshman forward Armando Bacot was out of action with a sprained ankle.

In his final game at the Smith Center, senior guard Brandon Robinson added 18 points to the winning cause on the strength of five three-pointers—creating a perfect final moment in front of the home fans after a season filled with numerous ups and downs.

After the game during his senior speech, Robinson referenced a talk he had with his head coach that helped him keep his confidence throughout his time at UNC–a talk an emotional Williams remembered when he spoke to the crowd himself afterwards.

“I remember that time that we talked,” Williams said, looking at Robinson. “And you did become a big-time player son. Eighteen points on Senior Day. And now you’ve got something on Theo [Pinson] and Joel [Berry] too. Because you didn’t lose your Senior Day, too, boy.”

It was a spectacular showing for a team that has just now started to really round into form in the season’s final stretch. With 17 losses, an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament remains out of the question.

A win at Duke this weekend, though, would give UNC a season split in its biggest rivalry while sending the Tar Heels to Greensboro for the ACC Tournament on a four-game winning streak. There’s a real argument to be made that even without beating the Blue Devils this weekend UNC would still be the team nobody wants to face in that event.

No matter what happens in the next week and a half, the narrative surrounding this team will always be that it never quit, never gave up and continued to give everything it had despite the numerous injuries and struggles on the court.

“It was really a hard year,” Williams said to the crowd, fighting back tears. “And every night that I walked out, I looked up and pointed at that student section. I love the way you stuck with us. I love that. And a bunch of you old folks over here stuck with us too. Boy, I appreciate that too.

“It was a hard year in a lot of ways,” the coach continued. “But you guys showed up every night. We didn’t do as much for you as I wanted us to do. But we loved the fact that you were with us. We love the fact that you stayed. We loved the fact that you appreciated that we came close and tough things would happen.

“I thank all of you so much,” he added. “And we’re not finished yet.”

Up Next:

The Tar Heels close the regular season with a trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium for the rivalry rematch against No. 12 Duke on Saturday. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Game Notes:

  • This was the third straight game Garrison Brooks has scored at least 25 points, and 10th time this season he’s scored at least 20.
  • UNC has made at least 10 three-pointers on just four occasions this season, the season-opening victory over Notre Dame, a win over Miami on Jan. 25 and each of its last two wins over Syracuse and Wake Forest.
  • Wake Forest won the rebounding battle 34-31, but UNC’s hot shooting proved to be enough to overcome that slight difference.
  • Leaky Black and Christian Keeling each added nine points apiece, as the Tar Heels just barely missed having five players in double figures.

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

Cover photo via Associated Press

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