Armando Bacot leads No. 7 North Carolina past Virginia Tech 96-81
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) No. 7 North Carolina needed to get things right and so the Tar Heels made good use of veterans Armando Bacot and RJ Davis on Saturday.
Bacot had 25 points and 12 rebounds and Davis scored 20 points as North Carolina led most of the way in a 96-81 victory against Virginia Tech.
Cormac Ryan scored 16 and Harrison Ingram added 12 points and 17 rebounds for the Tar Heels (20-6, 12-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who lost three of their previous five games.
“We also kind of wanted to make a statement again,” Davis said. “We were dialed in at both ends of the court.”
MJ Collins had 18 points and reserve Mylyjael Poteat scored 15 to lead Virginia Tech (14-11, 6-8), which lost for the fourth time in five games. Tyler Nickel had 14 points against his former team and Lynn Kidd and Hunter Cattoor added 11 points apiece.
Bacot feasted against the Hokies’ foul-plagued front line on the way to shooting 11 for 16 from the field as part of the team’s 51.5% shooting. He notched 19 second-half points.
“All three of their bigs had fouls and we have Armando,” Ingram said of the advantage in the post.
Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said the Hokies knew to pay attention to the Tar Heels’ standout duo.
“Armando Bacot has been a good player in this league for a long time and so has RJ Davis,” Young said. “We had a good plan, and those two guys were better than our plan.”
The Tar Heels’ 54 points in the paint marked the team’s second-highest total of the season.
“We talked about getting back to that, and so that was a huge advantage for us and Armando played fantastically,” North Carolina coach Hubert Davis said. “We knew we wanted to dominate points in the paint.”
Davis scored five straight points after Virginia Tech pulled within 79-72.
“They responded really well,” Nickel said. “That shows a mature team.”
Virginia Tech shot 41.8% from the field, going 1 for 12 on second-half 3-point shots. Those misfires thwarted much of a chance for a comeback.
“You’d better score with them because they’re going to score,” Young said.
The Tar Heels matched the most points allowed in the first half (44) by Virginia Tech this season with more than three minutes left before the break on the way to a 50-39 halftime lead.
An early 10-0 run for the Tar Heels helped set the tone. North Carolina ended up with a 43-31 rebounding edge.
TIP-INS
Nickel, a reserve guard who played last season as a North Carolina freshman, hit his first two shots on 3-point attempts and finished with four 3s. … The Hokies and Tar Heels hadn’t met since December 2022 and this was the lone scheduled meeting this season. … Saturday’s result ended Virginia Tech’s two-game win streak in the series.
BIG PICTURE
Virginia Tech: The Hokies, who gave up a season-high point total, made a couple of mini-rallies in the second half, but those weren’t enough to apply pressure on the Tar Heels. The Hokies have been outrebounded in four of their last five games.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels, who maintained a half-game lead in the ACC, needed a get-well outing and this certainly qualified for a team that had risen to as high as No. 3 in the rankings.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech: Hosts No. 21 Virginia on Monday night.
North Carolina: Visits Virginia on Feb. 24.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Lynn Kidd vs. Armando Bacot (Robbie Beran gains possession) | |||
19:47 | Hunter Cattoor misses two point jump shot | |||
19:45 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
19:21 | Harrison Ingram turnover (bad pass) | |||
18:56 | +3 | MJ Collins makes three point pullup jump shot | 3-0 | |
18:31 | Elliot Cadeau turnover (bad pass) (Robbie Beran steals) | |||
18:25 | +2 | MJ Collins makes two point driving layup (Sean Pedulla assists) | 5-0 | |
18:08 | RJ Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
18:06 | Armando Bacot offensive rebound | |||
18:05 | Lynn Kidd personal foul (Armando Bacot draws the foul) | |||
17:59 | Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot | |||
17:57 | Mylyjael Poteat defensive rebound | |||
17:41 | Hunter Cattoor offensive foul (RJ Davis draws the foul) | |||
17:41 | Hunter Cattoor turnover (offensive foul) | |||
17:22 | +3 | Cormac Ryan makes three point jump shot (RJ Davis assists) | 5-3 | |
17:05 | Hunter Cattoor misses two point layup | |||
17:03 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
16:49 | Robbie Beran shooting foul (Harrison Ingram draws the foul) | |||
16:49 | +1 | Harrison Ingram makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-4 | |
16:49 | +1 | Harrison Ingram makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-5 | |
16:32 | Mylyjael Poteat misses two point layup | |||
16:30 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
16:25 | +2 | Harrison Ingram makes two point floating jump shot | 5-7 | |
16:05 | Sean Pedulla misses two point jump shot | |||
16:03 | Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound | |||
15:57 | Cormac Ryan misses three point jump shot | |||
15:55 | Mylyjael Poteat defensive rebound | |||
15:46 | Hunter Cattoor misses three point jump shot | |||
15:44 | Armando Bacot defensive rebound | |||
15:30 | RJ Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
15:28 | Harrison Ingram offensive rebound | |||
15:25 | +2 | Harrison Ingram makes two point putback layup | 5-9 | |
15:25 | Mylyjael Poteat shooting foul (Harrison Ingram draws the foul) | |||
15:25 | TV timeout | |||
15:25 | +1 | Harrison Ingram makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 5-10 | |
15:08 | +2 | MJ Collins makes two point pullup jump shot | 7-10 | |
14:53 | +2 | Jae'Lyn Withers makes two point layup | 7-12 | |
14:40 | +3 | Tyler Nickel makes three point jump shot (Sean Pedulla assists) | 10-12 | |
14:24 | Armando Bacot misses two point layup | |||
14:22 | Jae'Lyn Withers offensive rebound | |||
14:18 | Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point layup | |||
14:16 | Mylyjael Poteat defensive rebound | |||
14:12 | Mylyjael Poteat turnover (lost ball) (Jae'Lyn Withers steals) | |||
14:07 | Mylyjael Poteat shooting foul (Seth Trimble draws the foul) | |||
14:07 | +1 | Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-13 | |
14:07 | +1 | Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-14 | |
14:07 | RJ Davis personal foul (Hunter Cattoor draws the foul) | |||
13:48 | +3 | Tyler Nickel makes three point jump shot (Sean Pedulla assists) | 13-14 | |
13:32 | Hunter Cattoor personal foul (RJ Davis draws the foul) | |||
13:27 | +3 | Cormac Ryan makes three point jump shot (Elliot Cadeau assists) | 13-17 | |
13:03 | +2 | Lynn Kidd makes two point layup | 15-17 | |
12:46 | Harrison Ingram misses two point jump shot | |||
12:44 | Harrison Ingram offensive rebound | |||
12:40 | Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot | |||
12:38 | Jaydon Young defensive rebound | |||
12:38 | Harrison Ingram personal foul (Jaydon Young draws the foul) | |||
12:25 | Jaydon Young misses three point jump shot | |||
12:23 | Cormac Ryan defensive rebound | |||
12:12 | +2 | Jalen Washington makes two point cutting dunk (Cormac Ryan assists) | 15-19 | |
11:57 | Lynn Kidd misses two point layup | |||
11:55 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
11:46 | Harrison Ingram misses three point jump shot | |||
11:44 | MJ Collins defensive rebound | |||
11:32 | Sean Pedulla turnover (traveling) | |||
11:32 | TV timeout | |||
11:23 | +2 | Elliot Cadeau makes two point driving layup | 15-21 | |
11:06 | +2 | Sean Pedulla makes two point driving layup | 17-21 | |
10:48 | Tyler Nickel personal foul (Cormac Ryan draws the foul) | |||
10:48 | +1 | Cormac Ryan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-22 | |
10:48 | +1 | Cormac Ryan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-23 | |
10:33 | Seth Trimble shooting foul (Sean Pedulla draws the foul) | |||
10:33 | Sean Pedulla misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:33 | +1 | Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-23 | |
10:17 | +2 | Armando Bacot makes two point layup | 18-25 | |
9:55 | MJ Collins misses two point jump shot | |||
9:53 | Seth Trimble defensive rebound | |||
9:44 | +2 | Armando Bacot makes two point hook shot (Seth Trimble assists) | 18-27 | |
9:21 | Tyler Nickel misses three point jump shot | |||
9:19 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
9:13 | Cormac Ryan misses two point jump shot | |||
9:11 | Harrison Ingram offensive rebound | |||
9:07 | +2 | Harrison Ingram makes two point putback dunk | 18-29 | |
9:07 | Hokies 30 second timeout | |||
8:50 | Brandon Rechsteiner misses three point jump shot | |||
8:48 | Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound | |||
8:40 | Elliot Cadeau turnover (lost ball) (Tyler Nickel steals) | |||
8:35 | Jae'Lyn Withers blocks MJ Collins's two point layup | |||
8:33 | Lynn Kidd offensive rebound | |||
8:33 | Armando Bacot personal foul (Lynn Kidd draws the foul) | |||
8:29 | +2 | Sean Pedulla makes two point layup | 20-29 | |
8:11 | Armando Bacot misses two point layup | |||
8:09 | Armando Bacot offensive rebound | |||
8:09 | +2 | Armando Bacot makes two point putback layup | 20-31 | |
7:56 | Tyler Nickel misses two point layup | |||
7:54 | Tar Heels defensive rebound | |||
7:54 | Lynn Kidd personal foul (RJ Davis draws the foul) | |||
7:54 | TV timeout | |||
7:54 | +1 | RJ Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-32 | |
7:54 | RJ Davis misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:54 | Tyler Nickel defensive rebound | |||
7:50 | Tyler Nickel turnover (lost ball) (Jae'Lyn Withers steals) | |||
7:35 | +2 | Elliot Cadeau makes two point driving layup | 20-34 | |
7:15 | Elliot Cadeau shooting foul (Sean Pedulla draws the foul) | |||
7:15 | Sean Pedulla misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:15 | +1 | Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-34 | |
7:08 | Elliot Cadeau misses two point layup | |||
7:06 | Mylyjael Poteat defensive rebound | |||
7:01 | Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot | |||
6:59 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
6:53 | Harrison Ingram misses three point jump shot | |||
6:51 | Hunter Cattoor defensive rebound | |||
6:30 | +2 | Mylyjael Poteat makes two point cutting layup (Hunter Cattoor assists) | 23-34 | |
6:27 | Elliot Cadeau turnover (traveling) | |||
6:17 | +2 | Mylyjael Poteat makes two point layup (MJ Collins assists) | 25-34 | |
6:17 | Armando Bacot shooting foul (Mylyjael Poteat draws the foul) | |||
6:17 | +1 | Mylyjael Poteat makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 26-34 | |
5:52 | RJ Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
5:50 | Cormac Ryan offensive rebound | |||
5:47 | Cormac Ryan misses two point layup | |||
5:45 | Jalen Washington offensive rebound | |||
5:43 | +2 | Jalen Washington makes two point putback dunk | 26-36 | |
5:30 | +3 | MJ Collins makes three point jump shot (Robbie Beran assists) | 29-36 | |
5:15 | Cormac Ryan misses two point jump shot | |||
5:13 | Sean Pedulla defensive rebound | |||
5:06 | Sean Pedulla misses two point jump shot | |||
5:04 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
4:59 | +2 | RJ Davis makes two point driving layup (Harrison Ingram assists) | 29-38 | |
4:41 | MJ Collins turnover (lost ball) (Cormac Ryan steals) | |||
4:34 | Robbie Beran shooting foul (RJ Davis draws the foul) | |||
4:34 | +1 | RJ Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-39 | |
4:34 | +1 | RJ Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-40 | |
4:18 | +2 | Mylyjael Poteat makes two point layup (Sean Pedulla assists) | 31-40 | |
4:01 | +2 | RJ Davis makes two point floating jump shot | 31-42 | |
3:41 | +3 | Hunter Cattoor makes three point jump shot (Tyler Nickel assists) | 34-42 | |
3:22 | +2 | Harrison Ingram makes two point pullup jump shot | 34-44 | |
3:06 | +3 | Tyler Nickel makes three point jump shot (Sean Pedulla assists) | 37-44 | |
3:03 | Hokies 30 second timeout | |||
3:03 | TV timeout | |||
2:53 | Cormac Ryan misses three point jump shot | |||
2:51 | MJ Collins defensive rebound | |||
2:51 | Jalen Washington personal foul (MJ Collins draws the foul) | |||
2:51 | +1 | Jaydon Young makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-44 | |
2:51 | +1 | Jaydon Young makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-44 | |
2:39 | Tyler Nickel blocks Harrison Ingram's two point layup | |||
2:37 | MJ Collins defensive rebound | |||
2:30 | MJ Collins misses three point jump shot | |||
2:28 | Harrison Ingram defensive rebound | |||
2:02 | RJ Davis misses two point jump shot | |||
2:00 | Harrison Ingram offensive rebound | |||
1:49 | Tyler Nickel blocks Seth Trimble's two point layup | |||
1:47 | Hokies defensive rebound | |||
1:37 | Jaydon Young misses three point jump shot | |||
1:35 | Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound | |||
1:28 | Patrick Wessler personal foul (Jalen Washington draws the foul) | |||
1:28 | +1 | Jalen Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-45 | |
1:28 | Jalen Washington misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
1:28 | Patrick Wessler defensive rebound | |||
1:12 | RJ Davis blocks Sean Pedulla's two point layup | |||
1:10 | Tar Heels defensive rebound | |||
0:59 | +3 | RJ Davis makes three point jump shot (Elliot Cadeau assists) | 39-48 | |
0:42 | Sean Pedulla misses two point layup | |||
0:40 | Patrick Wessler offensive rebound | |||
0:37 | Jalen Washington blocks Patrick Wessler's two point layup | |||
0:35 | Jalen Washington defensive rebound | |||
0:28 | Tar Heels 30 second timeout | |||
0:09 | +2 | Elliot Cadeau makes two point driving layup | 39-50 | |
0:02 | MJ Collins misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Jaydon Young offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |