No. 3 North Carolina holds off Florida State 75-68 to extend win streak to 10 games
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) North Carolina had won seven straight Atlantic Coast Conference games by double digits. On Saturday, the Tar Heels showed they could win a game that was tight in the final minutes.
RJ Davis scored 24 points and freshman Elliot Cadeau scored a season-high 16 points to help No. 3 North Carolina rally from an eight-point deficit early in the second half and beat Florida State 75-68.
Davis shot 9 of 18 from the floor, although he made just 2 of 8 3-point shots, and surpassed the 20-point mark for the 13th time this season.
Cadeau shot 8 of 9 from the free-throw line and had six assists as North Carolina (17-3, 9-0) extended its win streak to 10 games.
Primo Spears scored 15 points on 6 of 15 shooting, drilling 3 of 4 3-pointers, for Florida State (12-8, 6-3). Spears had a steal and then a layup on the fast break to cut North Carolina’s lead to 70-68 with 2:36 left. But Harrison Ingram blocked a Jamir Watkins drive with 33 seconds left and the Tar Heels were able to make free-throw attempts down the stretch to seal up the victory.
“We don’t panic,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “There’s a calmness and a confidence about this group.”
The Tar Heels had to flex their muscle and did so, winning the rebounding battle 41-32 and pulling down 16 offensive boards. Ingram had 17 rebounds, including seven offensive boards.
Watkins had 10 first-half points as the Seminoles shot 16 of 32 from the floor, including 7 of 12 from 3-point range, to take a 41-36 halftime lead. But while the Seminoles quickly extended the lead to eight, 46-38, the Tar Heels within five minutes erased the deficit and jumped ahead 58-52 on Cadeau’s jumper with 14:03 to go.
North Carolina also didn’t give opportunities away in the second half. In the first 20 minutes, the Tar Heels’ 12 turnovers contributed to the Seminoles scoring 19 points.
“Going into halftime saying, ‘We need to take care of the basketball. That would fix a lot,’” Davis said.
North Carolina certainly did, shooting 19 of 24 (79.2%) from the free-throw line.
Florida State faltered for stretches in the second half, shooting 11 of 30 (36.7%) in the final 20 minutes.
While North Carolina won its 10th straight game, the Seminoles entered the month of January on a tailspin but finished 6-2 with losses to Clemson and UNC.
BIC PICTURE
North Carolina: The Tar Heels won their 750th regular-season ACC game. This is also the first time UNC has opened 9-0 in conference play since 2001.
Florida State: When the Seminoles traveled to North Carolina on Dec. 2, they led by 14 in the second half before the Tar Heels pressed and rallied for a 78-70 win. Florida State is far improved since then and is deeper with the return of forwards Cameron Corhen (toe) and Jaylan Gainey (knee) from injury. Spears missed the first game at North Carolina as he awaited his appeal as a two-time waiver.
“We’re getting better,” Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton said. “Early in the year we had a lot of coming and going. It didn’t allow us to get the right rotation that we seem to have now. We seem to be in a good place with us learning more about how to utilize who we are.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
There’s little chance North Carolina can move up as No. 1 Connecticut and No. 2 Purdue maintain their top spots. The Huskies also have a Dec. 5 win over the Tar Heels.
UP NEXT
North Carolina: Travels to Georgia Tech on Tuesday.
Florida State: Travels to Louisville on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Armando Bacot vs. Baba Miller (Jamir Watkins gains possession) | |||
19:48 | Jamir Watkins turnover (bad pass) | |||
19:35 | Harrison Ingram misses two point layup | |||
19:33 | Harrison Ingram offensive rebound | |||
19:33 | Jump ball. Harrison Ingram vs. Jamir Watkins (Harrison Ingram gains possession) | |||
19:15 | Elliot Cadeau misses two point jump shot | |||
19:13 | Elliot Cadeau offensive rebound | |||
19:09 | Cormac Ryan misses three point jump shot | |||
19:07 | Baba Miller defensive rebound | |||
19:01 | Armando Bacot blocks Jamir Watkins's two point layup | |||
18:59 | RJ Davis defensive rebound | |||
18:41 | +2 | Elliot Cadeau makes two point layup | 2-0 | |
18:24 | Jamir Watkins misses two point jump shot | |||
18:22 | Armando Bacot defensive rebound | |||
18:12 | Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot | |||
18:10 | Harrison Ingram offensive rebound | |||
18:04 | Armando Bacot turnover (lost ball) (De'Ante Green steals) | |||
18:00 | Baba Miller offensive foul | |||
18:00 | Baba Miller turnover (offensive foul) | |||
17:46 | Jalen Warley shooting foul (Elliot Cadeau draws the foul) | |||
17:46 | +1 | Elliot Cadeau makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-0 | |
17:46 | +1 | Elliot Cadeau makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-0 | |
17:29 | +3 | Baba Miller makes three point jump shot (Jalen Warley assists) | 4-3 | |
17:22 | Tar Heels 30 second timeout | |||
17:07 | +3 | RJ Davis makes three point jump shot (Elliot Cadeau assists) | 7-3 | |
16:50 | De'Ante Green misses three point jump shot | |||
16:48 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
16:31 | +3 | Harrison Ingram makes three point jump shot (Elliot Cadeau assists) | 10-3 | |
16:21 | +3 | Darin Green Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jalen Warley assists) | 10-6 | |
16:11 | +3 | Harrison Ingram makes three point jump shot (Elliot Cadeau assists) | 13-6 | |
15:41 | Darin Green Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
15:39 | De'Ante Green offensive rebound | |||
15:34 | +2 | De'Ante Green makes two point layup | 13-8 | |
15:15 | +3 | RJ Davis makes three point jump shot | 16-8 | |
15:02 | Jalen Warley offensive foul | |||
15:02 | Jalen Warley turnover (offensive foul) | |||
15:02 | TV timeout | |||
14:44 | RJ Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
14:42 | Taylor Bol Bowen defensive rebound | |||
14:17 | Primo Spears turnover (bad pass) (Armando Bacot steals) | |||
14:08 | Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point jump shot | |||
14:06 | Cam Corhen defensive rebound | |||
13:59 | Jae'Lyn Withers personal foul | |||
13:36 | Primo Spears misses two point jump shot | |||
13:34 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
13:29 | +2 | Armando Bacot makes two point layup (RJ Davis assists) | 18-8 | |
13:29 | Darin Green Jr. shooting foul (Armando Bacot draws the foul) | |||
13:29 | Seminoles 30 second timeout | |||
13:29 | +1 | Armando Bacot makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-8 | |
13:10 | Jamir Watkins misses two point layup | |||
13:08 | Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound | |||
12:59 | Seth Trimble misses two point layup | |||
12:57 | Darin Green Jr. defensive rebound | |||
12:50 | Taylor Bol Bowen misses three point jump shot | |||
12:48 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
12:42 | RJ Davis turnover (lost ball) (Taylor Bol Bowen steals) | |||
12:31 | +3 | Jamir Watkins makes three point jump shot | 19-11 | |
12:24 | RJ Davis turnover (lost ball) | |||
12:12 | +2 | Primo Spears makes two point layup | 19-13 | |
12:04 | Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point jump shot | |||
12:02 | Jamir Watkins defensive rebound | |||
11:47 | Primo Spears misses two point jump shot | |||
11:45 | Taylor Bol Bowen offensive rebound | |||
11:40 | +2 | Taylor Bol Bowen makes two point layup | 19-15 | |
11:30 | +2 | Jalen Washington makes two point dunk (Seth Trimble assists) | 21-15 | |
11:04 | Jamir Watkins turnover (lost ball) (Harrison Ingram steals) | |||
10:57 | Jamir Watkins blocks Harrison Ingram's two point layup | |||
10:55 | Seth Trimble offensive rebound | |||
10:54 | RJ Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
10:54 | Tar Heels offensive rebound | |||
10:54 | Cam Corhen personal foul | |||
10:54 | TV timeout | |||
10:38 | Elliot Cadeau turnover (bad pass) (Taylor Bol Bowen steals) | |||
10:21 | +2 | Primo Spears makes two point jump shot | 21-17 | |
10:04 | Chandler Jackson shooting foul (Elliot Cadeau draws the foul) | |||
10:04 | Elliot Cadeau misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:04 | +1 | Elliot Cadeau makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-17 | |
9:55 | Jae'Lyn Withers personal foul (Baba Miller draws the foul) | |||
9:46 | +2 | Jaylan Gainey makes two point dunk (Baba Miller assists) | 22-19 | |
9:17 | Jump ball. Harrison Ingram vs. Chandler Jackson (Chandler Jackson gains possession) | |||
9:17 | Harrison Ingram turnover (lost ball) (Chandler Jackson steals) | |||
8:53 | Primo Spears misses three point jump shot | |||
8:51 | RJ Davis defensive rebound | |||
8:44 | Josh Nickelberry blocks RJ Davis's two point layup | |||
8:42 | Cormac Ryan offensive rebound | |||
8:34 | +2 | Armando Bacot makes two point layup (Elliot Cadeau assists) | 24-19 | |
8:17 | Baba Miller misses two point jump shot | |||
8:15 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
8:02 | +2 | RJ Davis makes two point jump shot (Armando Bacot assists) | 26-19 | |
7:37 | +3 | Chandler Jackson makes three point jump shot (Primo Spears assists) | 26-22 | |
7:27 | Jaylan Gainey shooting foul (Elliot Cadeau draws the foul) | |||
7:27 | TV timeout | |||
7:27 | +1 | Elliot Cadeau makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-22 | |
7:27 | +1 | Elliot Cadeau makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-22 | |
7:18 | De'Ante Green misses two point layup | |||
7:16 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
7:10 | Harrison Ingram misses three point jump shot | |||
7:08 | Primo Spears defensive rebound | |||
6:51 | +2 | Jamir Watkins makes two point layup | 28-24 | |
6:51 | Elliot Cadeau shooting foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul) | |||
6:51 | +1 | Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 28-25 | |
6:30 | Armando Bacot turnover (bad pass) (Jamir Watkins steals) | |||
6:30 | Elliot Cadeau personal foul | |||
6:14 | Harrison Ingram personal foul | |||
6:03 | Baba Miller misses three point jump shot | |||
6:01 | Seminoles offensive rebound | |||
5:58 | Armando Bacot shooting foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul) | |||
5:58 | Jamir Watkins misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:58 | +1 | Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-26 | |
5:58 | Seth Trimble turnover (5-second violation) | |||
5:57 | Primo Spears turnover (bad pass) (Harrison Ingram steals) | |||
5:54 | Baba Miller shooting foul (Seth Trimble draws the foul) | |||
5:54 | +1 | Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-26 | |
5:54 | Seth Trimble misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:54 | Baba Miller defensive rebound | |||
5:37 | Primo Spears misses two point layup | |||
5:35 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
5:21 | Cormac Ryan misses three point jump shot | |||
5:19 | Seminoles defensive rebound | |||
5:05 | Jamir Watkins misses two point layup | |||
5:03 | Zayden High defensive rebound | |||
4:54 | De'Ante Green personal foul | |||
4:54 | Armando Bacot misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
4:54 | Darin Green Jr. defensive rebound | |||
4:46 | +2 | Darin Green Jr. makes two point jump shot | 29-28 | |
4:32 | Zayden High turnover (lost ball) (Darin Green Jr. steals) | |||
4:21 | +3 | Primo Spears makes three point jump shot (Darin Green Jr. assists) | 29-31 | |
4:11 | +2 | RJ Davis makes two point jump shot | 31-31 | |
3:38 | Jamir Watkins turnover (traveling) | |||
3:38 | TV timeout | |||
3:38 | Tar Heels 30 second timeout | |||
3:28 | Zayden High turnover (out of bounds) | |||
3:16 | +3 | Jamir Watkins makes three point jump shot (Primo Spears assists) | 31-34 | |
2:59 | RJ Davis turnover (lost ball) | |||
2:49 | +3 | Primo Spears makes three point jump shot (Cam Corhen assists) | 31-37 | |
2:26 | Jamir Watkins shooting foul (Seth Trimble draws the foul) | |||
2:26 | +1 | Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-37 | |
2:26 | +1 | Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-37 | |
2:17 | Jamir Watkins turnover (lost ball) (Harrison Ingram steals) | |||
2:09 | Harrison Ingram turnover (lost ball) (Jamir Watkins steals) | |||
1:59 | Primo Spears misses two point jump shot | |||
1:57 | Taylor Bol Bowen offensive rebound | |||
1:53 | +2 | Taylor Bol Bowen makes two point layup | 33-39 | |
1:42 | RJ Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
1:40 | Harrison Ingram offensive rebound | |||
1:35 | Harrison Ingram misses two point layup | |||
1:33 | Harrison Ingram offensive rebound | |||
1:25 | Armando Bacot misses two point jump shot | |||
1:23 | Paxson Wojcik offensive rebound | |||
1:19 | +2 | Paxson Wojcik makes two point layup | 35-39 | |
1:09 | +2 | Chandler Jackson makes two point jump shot | 35-41 | |
0:49 | Chandler Jackson shooting foul (Cormac Ryan draws the foul) | |||
0:49 | +1 | Cormac Ryan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-41 | |
0:49 | Cormac Ryan misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:49 | Cam Corhen defensive rebound | |||
0:27 | Josh Nickelberry misses two point jump shot | |||
0:25 | Cormac Ryan defensive rebound | |||
0:05 | RJ Davis misses two point layup | |||
0:02 | Tar Heels offensive rebound | |||
0:01 | Paxson Wojcik turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:00 | End of period |