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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels’ strong second half leads to ACC semifinal berth

By Blake Cockrum

Mar 11, 2021; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard R.J. Davis (4) brings the ball up court against Virginia Tech Hokies guard Wabissa Bede (3) during the first half in the quarterfinal round of the 2021 ACC tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2021; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard R.J. Davis (4) brings the ball up court against Virginia Tech Hokies guard Wabissa Bede (3) during the first half in the quarterfinal round of the 2021 ACC tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UNC basketball program has moved on to the ACC Tournament semifinals with an impressive victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies.

441. 73. 447. Final. 81

R.J. Davis scored a career-high 19 points on Thursday night, as the North Carolina Tar Heels topped the Virginia Tech Hokies by a final score of 81-73 to move on to the ACC Tournament semifinal round.

Davis hit 6-of-10 shots from the floor, 4-of-7 from three-point range and 3-of-3 at the free throw line. He also had four rebounds, an assist and a steal in what could easily be called his best game as a Tar Heel. Armando Bacot had another big performance on Thursday night with a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double, his second in as many days. Freshman center Day’Ron Sharpe was the only other Tar Heel to score in double-figures against the Hokies. He had 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.

The Tar Heels struggled throughout the first half, turning the ball over and failing to get to the offensive glass with the same frequency that they did a night ago. That all changed in the second half, as UNC wore Virginia Tech down with a heavy dose of Bacot, Sharpe, Kessler and Brooks in the low post. North Carolina finished the game with 15 offensive rebounds.

The Tar Heels hit 28-of-63 shots for the game, and 8-of-21 from long-range. They missed 10 free throws, but dominated Virginia Tech on the glass throughout the second half, and made just enough big plays down the stretch to move on to the ACC Tournament semifinal round.

Virginia Tech was led by Justyn Mutts, who scored a game-high 24 points on a 10-for-16 shooting performance. Tyrece Radford added 20 points for the Hokies, who fall to 15-6 with the loss. They shot better than 46 percent for the game and 44.4 percent from three-point range, but missed seven free throws and got outrebounded by 11.

The Tar Heels will play Florida State tomorrow night with a shot at playing in the ACC Tournament Championship on Saturday.

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Stick with Keeping It Heel for complete coverage of tomorrow night’s game, and all the latest on the UNC basketball program.

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