Fans of the UNC basketball program are well-aware of what that first game after finals week usually looks like.
After a grueling week in the classroom, one in which most of the student population has headed home following the conclusion of, the Tar Heels were a tad bit sluggish against the USC Upstate Spartans.
While they were sluggish, they found a way to get the job done.
The visiting Spartans hung around for most of the game, as the game was only separated by eight points at the final media timeout. However, North Carolina pulled away, securing an 18-point victory to improve to 9-1 on the early season.
Have a day, Jonathan Powell!
The West Virginia transfer had a stellar performance, scoring a career-high 17 points on six of 9 shooting from the floor. He connected on a trio of triples over his 24 minutes of action, providing a much-needed spark off the bench.
Caleb Wilson records yet another double-double
Even on what was a "quiet night" for Caleb Wilson, he STILL dominated. The freshman forward led all scorers with 20 points, adding 11 rebounds in his 32 minutes of work, as a good portion of his damage came at the charity stripe.
While it was another strong performance, Wilson will definitely not be pleased with himself for missing six of 13 free throw attempts.
The international products getting the job done
Luka Bogavac continues to be a consistent double-digit scorer, as the confidence is starting to show from the Montenegro native. On Saturday, Bogavac recorded 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, putting together a strong all-around effort.
Henri Veesaar fell just one rebound shy of another double-double, finishing the afternoon with 14 points and 9 rebounds. He continues to be a strong presence in the paint for this UNC basketball squad.
What's next?
The UNC basketball program has a quick turnaround when they host ETSU on Tuesday night at the Dean Smith Center. Tip-off for this non-conference tilt is scheduled for 8:00 PM EST on the ACC Network.