Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels lose again in game’s final moments

By Blake Cockrum

SOUTH BEND, IN - FEBRUARY 17: Nate Laszewski #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after hitting the go-ahead, three-point shot with seconds remaining against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Purcell Pavilion on February 17, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - FEBRUARY 17: Nate Laszewski #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after hitting the go-ahead, three-point shot with seconds remaining against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Purcell Pavilion on February 17, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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The UNC basketball program has lost six consecutive games, something it had never done in the Roy Williams era.

Prentiss Hubb had a team-high 20 points and eight assists on Monday night, as Notre Dame beat North Carolina by a final score of 77-76 at Purcell Pavilion.

Hubb hit 7-of-17 shots from the floor, and knocked down two of his team’s 11 shots from three-point range. Senior guard TJ Gibbs scored 14 points on a 5-for-11 shooting performance, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Irish big man John Mooney recorded a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double, as Notre Dame moved to 16-10 on the season, and 7-8 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

The Irish shot 44.4 percent for the game, and 32.4 percent from long-range. They hit just 10-of-17 free throw attempts, and lost the rebounding battle by 16, but committed just six turnovers to the Tar Heels’ 12.

North Carolina was led by Cole Anthony’s game-high 23 points, six assists and three rebounds, but it simply wasn’t enough in the end. Neither was Garrison Brooks’ 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists, as the Tar Heels again blew a large second half lead.

Up by 15 points with less than nine minutes remaining in the game, the Tar Heels allowed Notre Dame to get back in it by committing costly turnovers, giving up wide-open shots and basically doing the same thing they’ve done in a dozen other games this season. Despite shooting a respectable percentage from the floor, knocking down eight three-pointers, hitting 12-of-14 free throws, and winning the rebounding battle by double-digits, they went on a scoring drought and made enough costly errors in the closing minutes to give away another would-be victory.

The Tar Heels have now lost six consecutive games for the first time in the Roy Williams era at North Carolina. They’re now sitting at 10-16 overall, and 3-12 in conference play; in sole possession of last place in the ACC.

Next. Could Cole Anthony return next season?. dark

North Carolina will be back in action on Saturday afternoon at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville to take on the Cardinals. Stick with Keeping It Heel for coverage of that, and everything UNC basketball.

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