NCAA Basketball: Tar Heels survive against Arkansas to move to Sweet 16
The Tar Heels advance to the Sweet 16. What did Carolina do to win the game against the Razorbacks?
The Cardiac Tar Heels are back.
The North Carolina Tar Heels beat the Razorbacks of Arkansas 72-65. However, UNC made it fans sweat as they needed a late run to pull the victory out.
For minutes it looked as if the Razorbacks would pull off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and send another one seed home early.
But UNC didn’t allow that.So what happened in the game?
First Half
Justin Jackson came into the game needing one three-pointer to set the single-season record for most threes at Carolina. He made sure it wasn’t something that hung over his game for long.
He broke the record in the first two minutes against the Razorbacks but only hit one more shot in the first half.
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Joel Berry II was the other story coming into this game.
The junior looked a little timid at first but finished the half with eight points and two assists.
However, he shot only 2-for-8 from the field.
Arkansas looked to be lost early, but just like the ACC tournament, the Tar Heels couldn’t finish the half strong.
The Razorbacks ended the half on a 20-8 run that cut a 17 point UNC lead to just five. The run was aided by a foul on a three-point attempt, the second of the game by the Tar Heels.
The Tar Heels dominated the glass as everyone assumed outrebounding the Razorbacks 27-19, including 14-5 on the offensive glass. The Tar Heels got a huge half from Tony Bradley scoring seven points and grabbing seven boards.
The other stat of the first half was turnovers. The two teams combined for 17 turnovers in the first half. The sloppy play led to a lot of transition for both teams, who like to run.
Second Half
The second half was about as tormenting a game for Tar Heels fans in a long time.
The Razorbacks came out swinging and the Tar Heels looked to wilt early. That 20-8 run was extended and the Razorbacks led 65-60 with 3:31 left in the game.
A 12-0 run later and the Tar Heels snuck out with the win and are headed to Memphis. Isaiah Hicks had only nine points but six came during the important run.
The first two came on a dunk from a pass from Justin Jackson where Hicks slammed it home over Moses Kingsley. Hicks then hit four clutch free throws. The first two gave the Tar Heels the lead with 1:44 left. The last two iced the game putting UNC up five with just 10 seconds remaining.
The Razorbacks deserve credit, though.
They didn’t give up despite being down 30-13 early. They made the Tar Heels work for it thanks to Daryl Macon who had 19 off the bench. They also forced UNC into 17 turnovers, including 10 in the second half, and held the Tar Heels to just 38 percent from the field.
With the win, the Tar Heels advance to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season and will take on Butler in Memphis on Friday.
Next: Kennedy Meeks reaches milestone in UNC win
If the Tar Heels don’t clean up the turnovers and learn how to close a first half, their stay in the birthplace of Rock and Roll will be a short one.
Check back with Keeping It Heel for complete pregame coverage.