Bacot, Davis carry No. 19 North Carolina past Lehigh 90-68
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) No. 19 North Carolina didn’t want any extra stress, and the two most experienced players in Tar Heels uniforms made sure there was a comfortable conclusion Sunday.
Armando Bacot’s 22-point, 20-rebound effort and RJ Davis’ 22 points led North Carolina to a 90-68 win over Lehigh.
“Us being veterans and experiencing success and also going through those hardship games, we just have to pull guys along with us,” Davis said.
Harrison Ingram added 14 points for the Tar Heels, who broke away after Lehigh came within three points about seven minutes into the second half. North Carolina (2-0) outscored the Mountain Hawks 23-3 on free throws.
Bacot produced the third game of his career with 20-20 numbers, reaching the 20-rebound mark for the seventh time. He sat out the last four minutes.
“It is what is required and needed to be the best we can be,” coach Hubert Davis said of Bacot’s production. “There’s a sense of urgency that I haven’t seen in him.”
Keith Higgins Jr. scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half and Tyler Whitney-Sidney had 10 points for Lehigh (0-3).
“I thought our team competed to get ourselves in a competitive situation,” Lehigh coach Brett Reed said. “Being down three against a very good team is a promising sign. … But unfortunately, it felt like Carolina just kind of overpowered us.”
North Carolina’s 43-34 halftime lead shrunk to 53-50, but seven fouls by the Mountain Hawks in less than seven minutes to open the second half meant a steady diet of free throws for the Tar Heels. Two foul shots by RJ Davis began a 9-0 run.
“The calmness comes from having a guy like RJ out on the floor,” Hubert Davis said.
Bacot said the team’s response was appropriate.
“I think that spoke to the maturity of our team to be able to execute the plan and bring it up a notch,” Bacot said.
Bacot converted two three-point plays in the first 12 minutes. He ended up with six offensive rebounds, giving the fifth-year player 487 for his career and setting the school record. He passed Tyler Hansbrough (482).
After leading 14-13, Lehigh went more than seven minutes without a field goal. When Higgins snapped the drought with a 3-pointer, the Mountain Hawks closed within 27-18. Davis responded with two 3s in a 36-second span.
Bacot had first-half totals of 12 points and 12 rebounds for his 70th career double-double. Higgins made six of his team’s 12 first-half field goals.
“They did a good job of trying to limit Keith’s touches,” Reed said. “It generated opportunities for some other guys because he was commanding so much attention. I think a lot our guys will make more of those plays moving forward.”
Lehigh lost Friday night at Penn State and traveled to Maryland afterward. The Mountain Hawks practiced Saturday at Towson before flying to North Carolina to complete a challenging opening week of the season.
BIG PICTURE
Lehigh: The Mountain Hawks need more sources of offense after Higgins generated the most production in consecutive games. Lehigh was trying to defeat an Atlantic Coast Conference team for the first time since stunning Duke in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels have relied heavily on Bacot in the first two games as he has been a force in the lane. Also like in the opener vs. Radford, the Tar Heels didn’t gain much of a comfortable margin until a strong second-half stretch.
UP NEXT
Lehigh: Thursday night vs. Division III Oneonta (N.Y.) State
North Carolina: Friday night vs. UC Riverside
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Bube Momah vs. Armando Bacot (Dominic Parolin gains possession) | |||
19:57 | Jalin Sinclair turnover (lost ball) (RJ Davis steals) | |||
19:32 | Armando Bacot misses two point layup | |||
19:30 | Armando Bacot offensive rebound | |||
19:27 | Armando Bacot misses two point layup | |||
19:25 | Armando Bacot offensive rebound | |||
19:25 | Armando Bacot misses two point layup | |||
19:24 | Paxson Wojcik offensive rebound | |||
19:23 | +2 | Harrison Ingram makes two point layup | 0-2 | |
19:20 | Armando Bacot personal foul | |||
18:52 | +2 | Dominic Parolin makes two point layup (Jalin Sinclair assists) | 2-2 | |
18:42 | Cormac Ryan misses three point jump shot | |||
18:40 | Dominic Parolin defensive rebound | |||
18:23 | Keith Higgins Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
18:21 | Armando Bacot defensive rebound | |||
18:14 | Paxson Wojcik turnover (bad pass) (Jalin Sinclair steals) | |||
18:07 | Harrison Ingram shooting foul (Bube Momah draws the foul) | |||
18:07 | +1 | Bube Momah makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-2 | |
18:07 | +1 | Bube Momah makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-2 | |
17:56 | +2 | RJ Davis makes two point jump shot | 4-4 | |
17:40 | Tyler Whitney-Sidney misses three point jump shot | |||
17:38 | Armando Bacot defensive rebound | |||
17:24 | +3 | RJ Davis makes three point jump shot (Cormac Ryan assists) | 4-7 | |
17:09 | Dominic Parolin misses three point jump shot | |||
17:07 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
16:48 | Cormac Ryan misses two point layup | |||
16:46 | Tyler Whitney-Sidney defensive rebound | |||
16:42 | Armando Bacot blocks Tyler Whitney-Sidney's two point layup | |||
16:40 | Bube Momah offensive rebound | |||
16:21 | Keith Higgins Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
16:19 | Armando Bacot defensive rebound | |||
16:13 | Bube Momah shooting foul (Cormac Ryan draws the foul) | |||
16:13 | +1 | Cormac Ryan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-8 | |
16:13 | +1 | Cormac Ryan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-9 | |
15:58 | +2 | Keith Higgins Jr. makes two point jump shot (JT Tan assists) | 6-9 | |
15:41 | RJ Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
15:39 | Mountain Hawks defensive rebound | |||
15:39 | TV timeout | |||
15:10 | +3 | Keith Higgins Jr. makes three point jump shot | 9-9 | |
14:55 | +2 | Harrison Ingram makes two point jump shot | 9-11 | |
14:55 | Bube Momah shooting foul (Harrison Ingram draws the foul) | |||
14:55 | Harrison Ingram misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
14:55 | Keith Higgins Jr. defensive rebound | |||
14:49 | +3 | Jalin Sinclair makes three point jump shot (Burke Chebuhar assists) | 12-11 | |
14:40 | Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot | |||
14:38 | Mountain Hawks defensive rebound | |||
14:12 | Keith Higgins Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
14:10 | RJ Davis defensive rebound | |||
14:05 | +2 | RJ Davis makes two point jump shot | 12-13 | |
13:47 | Nasir Whitlock misses two point layup | |||
13:45 | RJ Davis defensive rebound | |||
13:45 | RJ Davis turnover (out of bounds) | |||
13:39 | +2 | Keith Higgins Jr. makes two point jump shot | 14-13 | |
13:16 | Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot | |||
13:14 | Burke Chebuhar defensive rebound | |||
12:56 | Nasir Whitlock misses three point jump shot | |||
12:54 | Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound | |||
12:38 | +2 | Jae'Lyn Withers makes two point layup | 14-15 | |
12:16 | Burke Chebuhar misses three point jump shot | |||
12:14 | Armando Bacot defensive rebound | |||
12:03 | +2 | Elliot Cadeau makes two point jump shot (Jae'Lyn Withers assists) | 14-17 | |
11:49 | Paxson Wojcik personal foul (Burke Chebuhar draws the foul) | |||
11:47 | TV timeout | |||
11:29 | Dominic Parolin misses two point jump shot | |||
11:27 | Armando Bacot defensive rebound | |||
11:16 | Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point jump shot | |||
11:14 | Dominic Parolin defensive rebound | |||
10:56 | Paxson Wojcik shooting foul (Nasir Whitlock draws the foul) | |||
10:56 | +1 | Nasir Whitlock makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-17 | |
10:56 | Nasir Whitlock misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:56 | Armando Bacot defensive rebound | |||
10:47 | +2 | Elliot Cadeau makes two point layup | 15-19 | |
10:21 | Nasir Whitlock misses three point jump shot | |||
10:19 | Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound | |||
10:11 | Armando Bacot misses two point layup | |||
10:10 | Armando Bacot offensive rebound | |||
10:10 | +2 | Armando Bacot makes two point layup | 15-21 | |
10:10 | Ben Knostman shooting foul (Armando Bacot draws the foul) | |||
10:10 | +1 | Armando Bacot makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 15-22 | |
9:43 | Tyler Whitney-Sidney misses two point layup | |||
9:41 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
9:36 | Harrison Ingram misses two point jump shot | |||
9:34 | JT Tan defensive rebound | |||
9:26 | Tyler Whitney-Sidney misses two point layup | |||
9:26 | Armando Bacot defensive rebound | |||
9:26 | Joshua Ingram personal foul | |||
9:16 | JT Tan personal foul (Armando Bacot draws the foul) | |||
9:09 | Jump ball. Armando Bacot vs. JT Tan (Mountain Hawks gains possession) | |||
9:09 | Armando Bacot turnover (lost ball) (JT Tan steals) | |||
8:52 | JT Tan misses two point layup | |||
8:50 | Cormac Ryan defensive rebound | |||
8:39 | +2 | Armando Bacot makes two point layup | 15-24 | |
8:39 | JT Tan shooting foul (Armando Bacot draws the foul) | |||
8:37 | +1 | Armando Bacot makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 15-25 | |
8:09 | Tyler Whitney-Sidney misses three point jump shot | |||
8:07 | Tar Heels defensive rebound | |||
7:51 | Cormac Ryan misses three point jump shot | |||
7:49 | Henri Adiassa defensive rebound | |||
7:33 | Jalin Sinclair misses three point jump shot | |||
7:31 | RJ Davis defensive rebound | |||
7:25 | Henri Adiassa blocks Seth Trimble's two point layup | |||
7:23 | Zayden High offensive rebound | |||
7:23 | TV timeout | |||
7:14 | Cormac Ryan misses two point jump shot | |||
7:12 | Tyler Whitney-Sidney defensive rebound | |||
7:02 | Tyler Whitney-Sidney misses two point jump shot | |||
7:00 | Henri Adiassa offensive rebound | |||
6:53 | Henri Adiassa misses two point layup | |||
6:51 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
6:42 | +2 | Cormac Ryan makes two point jump shot (Zayden High assists) | 15-27 | |
6:14 | +3 | Keith Higgins Jr. makes three point jump shot (Dominic Parolin assists) | 18-27 | |
6:00 | Harrison Ingram misses three point jump shot | |||
5:58 | Jalin Sinclair defensive rebound | |||
5:58 | Jump ball. Harrison Ingram vs. Jalin Sinclair (Tar Heels gains possession) | |||
5:58 | Jalin Sinclair turnover (lost ball) (Zayden High steals) | |||
5:52 | +3 | RJ Davis makes three point jump shot (Harrison Ingram assists) | 18-30 | |
5:20 | Joshua Ingram misses two point layup | |||
5:18 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
5:17 | +3 | RJ Davis makes three point jump shot (Cormac Ryan assists) | 18-33 | |
5:15 | Mountain Hawks 30 second timeout | |||
5:01 | +3 | Cam Gillus makes three point jump shot (Dominic Parolin assists) | 21-33 | |
4:45 | Armando Bacot misses two point jump shot | |||
4:43 | Cam Gillus defensive rebound | |||
4:37 | Keith Higgins Jr. turnover (lost ball) (RJ Davis steals) | |||
4:31 | +2 | Harrison Ingram makes two point layup | 21-35 | |
4:02 | +2 | Keith Higgins Jr. makes two point jump shot (Dominic Parolin assists) | 23-35 | |
3:57 | RJ Davis turnover (bad pass) | |||
3:57 | TV timeout | |||
3:45 | +3 | Dominic Parolin makes three point jump shot (Keith Higgins Jr. assists) | 26-35 | |
3:31 | RJ Davis misses two point layup | |||
3:29 | Joshua Ingram defensive rebound | |||
3:24 | Joshua Ingram turnover (Jae'Lyn Withers steals) | |||
3:10 | RJ Davis turnover (bad pass) (Cam Gillus steals) | |||
2:55 | Cam Gillus turnover (Armando Bacot steals) | |||
2:48 | Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point layup | |||
2:46 | Armando Bacot offensive rebound | |||
2:38 | +2 | Jae'Lyn Withers makes two point layup (Armando Bacot assists) | 26-37 | |
2:28 | Keith Higgins Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
2:28 | Armando Bacot defensive rebound | |||
2:28 | Bube Momah personal foul (Armando Bacot draws the foul) | |||
2:28 | +1 | Armando Bacot makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-38 | |
2:28 | +1 | Armando Bacot makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-39 | |
2:12 | +3 | Joshua Ingram makes three point jump shot (Nasir Whitlock assists) | 29-39 | |
1:54 | Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point jump shot | |||
1:52 | Nasir Whitlock defensive rebound | |||
1:43 | +3 | Burke Chebuhar makes three point jump shot (Keith Higgins Jr. assists) | 32-39 | |
1:29 | Elliot Cadeau misses two point jump shot | |||
1:27 | Joshua Ingram defensive rebound | |||
1:18 | Dominic Parolin misses three point jump shot | |||
1:16 | Burke Chebuhar offensive rebound | |||
1:11 | Burke Chebuhar misses two point layup | |||
1:09 | Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound | |||
1:06 | Burke Chebuhar shooting foul (Armando Bacot draws the foul) | |||
1:06 | +1 | Armando Bacot makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-40 | |
1:06 | +1 | Armando Bacot makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-41 | |
0:47 | Dominic Parolin misses three point jump shot | |||
0:45 | Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound | |||
0:34 | +2 | Armando Bacot makes two point jump shot | 32-43 | |
0:02 | +2 | Keith Higgins Jr. makes two point jump shot | 34-43 | |
0:00 | End of period |