The UNC basketball program went into Tallahassee and took care of business, defeating the Florida State Seminoles by a score of 96-85.
In a game that felt longer than it actually was (thanks to a combined 43 foul calls and 59 free throw attempts), North Carolina found a way to pull away early in the second half, creating a lead that was too much for the Seminoles to erase.
The first half was a close contest essentially until the 3:13 mark. After a Cade Tyson made layup, the Tar Heels started to build some momentum, ultimately taking a six point lead into the break.
Out of the locker room, North Carolina took control. They began the second half on a 12-4 run, one that gave them their biggest lead of the night. While Florida State would hang tough, North Carolina seemingly had answers to keep them at arms length.
One major adjustment was switching into zone, as we saw the Tar Heels use this defensive formula to their advantage. Once Hubert Davis made the call to switch into zone, it seemed to slow down the aggressive Florida State offensive attack, making it difficult for the Seminoles to maintain the hot shooting they displayed early in the game.
The Tar Heels also out rebounded the Seminoles 35-21, which is very impressive given Florida State's size, length and athleticism.
RJ Davis had a very efficient outing, leading the UNC basketball program with 20 points on five of 9 shooting from the floor. Seth Trimble had a strong 17-point performance, while Jae'Lyn Withers, Ven-Allen Lubin, Jalen Washington and Elliot Cadeau scored in double-figures as well. In total, 10 Tar Heels saw action in this one, with 9 of them scoring five or more points.
Talk about sharing the basketball!
Riding a four-game winning streak, the UNC basketball program returns to the Dean Smith Center on Saturday for an afternoon clash with the Miami Hurricanes. This is yet another game that the Tar Heels need to find a way to win, as this team is starting to build some momentum essentially at the right time of the season.