Keeping It Heel
Fansided

Lessons Learned from the UNC basketball program's season-opening win over Elon

In a game of fits and starts, North Carolina could lean on RJ Davis to bring it home in crunch time.

By Michael McKay

Elon v North Carolina
Elon v North Carolina / Grant Halverson/GettyImages
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RJ Davis takes over in crunch time

RJ Davis
Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

When North Carolina couldn't run the fast break anymore, points were hard to come by in the second half. At one point, Davis went to the bench to catch his breath with the Tar Heels up 12. He came back in with a deficit to balance.

No matter. Despite a quiet first half, RJ Davis immediately hit a floater and then canned a corner three to give UNC the lead back, one that they wouldn't give up for the rest of the game.

Davis' 17 second-half points were crucial because he was just about the only Tar Heel who could score in the half-court. And when he was fouled, he hit all of his free throws, going 5-5 from the line. In total, RJ scored 42.6% of UNC's second-half points. That's not a burden that you want to place on him for an entire season, but it's nice to know that he can do it if required.

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