UNC Basketball: Tar Heels bounce Cavaliers in convincing fashion

The UNC basketball program will advance to the ACC Tournament semifinal round following an impressive blowout victory over the Virginia Cavaliers.

Following a streak of seven consecutive losses to the Virginia Cavaliers, the Tar Heels completed the season sweep of Tony Bennett’s squad on Thursday night with a 63-43 victory in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

North Carolina held Virginia to just 13 points in the first half, an all-time low in the ACC Tournament since the start of the shot clock era. The Tar Heels had complete control of the game from the very early goings, thanks in large part to the outstanding 19-point first half they got from Brady Manek. The fifth-year senior slowed down in the second half, but still finished the game with 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three made three-pointers.

Armando Bacot gave the Tar Heels 10 points and 11 rebounds for his 24th double-double of the season, a new UNC single-season record (Brice Johnson, 2016). He added three steals and two blocks and committed just two personal fouls. Caleb Love was the only other Tar Heel to score in double-figures; he scored 10 to go along with three rebounds, five assists, and just one turnover.

The Tar Heels shot 38.5 percent (25-for-65) for the game, 26.1 percent (6-for-23) from beyond the arc, and 77.8 percent (7-for-9) at the foul line. They outrebounded the Cavs by 14 (46-32), assisted on 17 of their 25 made buckets, and committed just seven turnovers as a team.

Virginia was led by Jayden Gardner’s team-high 17 points on 8-of-16 shooting. He was the only Virginia player to notch double-digit points on Thursday night, as the Cavaliers struggled in just about every facet of the game.

They shot less than 35 percent (18-for-52) for the game, 27.3 percent (3-for-11) from long-range, and 44.4 percent (4-for-9) at the charity stripe. At 19-13 on the season, the Cavaliers have likely played their final game of the 2021-22 season, NIT notwithstanding.

North Carolina, now 24-8 on the season, will prepare for an ACC Tournament semifinal game against the Virginia Tech Hokies scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Friday night.

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