After allowing Wofford to erase a 12-point first half deficit and tie the game midway through the second half of Tuesday night’s regular season opener, the eighth-ranked UNC men’s basketball team flexed its muscles down the stretch to defeat the Terriers 78-67 in Spartanburg—avenging an upset loss from last December at the Dean Dome.
Senior forward Luke Maye provided the steadying force on the offensive end for the Tar Heels in the game, as he showed why he was a popular pick for the Preseason National Player of the Year.
Maye hit shots from all over the floor on the way to a game-high 24 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists.
When Wofford tied things up at 46 apiece with just under 11 minutes to play, however, it was graduate transfer Cameron Johnson that led the Tar Heels back into the drivers’ seat.
Sophomore foward Garrison Brooks had a career-night against Wofford on Tuesday, scoring a personal-best 20 points and grabbing five rebounds for Tar Heels. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Johnson—who ended the night with 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds–hit three of his five three-pointers in the three minutes directly after the Terriers brought things back to a deadlock.
As important as Maye and Johnson’s contributions were, perhaps the most meaningful development on the court for UNC was the emergence of sophomore forward Garrison Brooks.
The Alabama native started in the frontcourt alongside Maye and did not disappoint—pouring in a career-high 20 points while displaying a newfound ferocity in the paint.
“Garrison, there’s a reason he’s starting,” Williams said after the game. “Of those guys that have a right to play in that position, he’s played the best. He’s the most dependable.
“I jumped on everybody except him at halftime,” he added. “Because we took really bad shots.”
UNC definitely looked like a team adjusting to new pieces at times during the game, but the Tar Heels can still take solace in starting the season with a tough win against a tough opponent.
The Tar Heels were solid defensively against the experienced Terriers, with the standout performance on that end coming from senior guard Kenny Williams—who held Wofford sharpshooter Fletcher Magee to a 3-for-16 performance from three-point range.
Magee still led his team with 21 points, but his cold night severely affected the Terriers’ rhythm on offense. Williams, on the other hand, didn’t score a single point and still had a major impact in UNC’s win.
“Kenny Williams, to me, was the story of the game,” Roy Williams said. “He’s a senior. Didn’t score. I told him it was OK to score some also, but he was 0-for-3. Did have six rebounds, five assists, three turnovers.
Head coach Roy Williams and the Tar Heels gained some valuable experience by winning in a tough road environment at Wofford’s Richardson Indoor Stadium (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
“But he chased Fletcher [Magee] all night long,” the coach continued. “And that’s hard to do.”
In addition to avenging last year’s loss to Wofford, this group of Tar Heels have now already tasted what it’s like to compete in a true road game.
The intimate environment of Richardson Indoor Stadium provided UNC—which was packed to the brim in hopes of yet another upset—with a glimpse of what’s to come down the road once ACC play approaches.
Wofford could very easily earn a spot in this year’s NCAA Tournament with its talent and experience, as well, giving the Tar Heels a quality win on their resume just one game into the year.
“I don’t mind playing on the road,” Roy Williams told reporters. “I think it’s good for your team. Other people do the same thing, but maybe don’t get the same attention. I like playing games like this when we win, too.”
Up Next:
The Tar Heels will stay on the road for their next game, which is scheduled for this Friday at Elon. Tip-off for that game is set for 7 p.m.
Game Notes:
- Freshman point guard Coby White earned the starting nod over junior Seventh Woods, and finished with eight points and four assists.
- White’s classmate, Nassir Little, contributed seven points and three assists off the bench–while also adding a pair of impressive blocks on the defensive end.
- Wofford competed well with UNC on the glass, as the Tar Heels only had a rebounding advantage of 39-33.
- The Terriers converted on just nine of their 36 attempts from three-point range, good enough for just a 25 percent success rate.
Cover photo via Bob Leverone (Associated Press)
