Behind a stellar effort on the defensive side of the floor, the UNC basketball program put together a strong all-around performance in their victory over California on Wednesday night in Chapel Hill.
While California has struggled a bit this season, this is a unit that came into this game averaging just under eight made three-pointers a game. Typically, opposing teams who visit the Dean Smith Center shoot the lights out of the gym, but the Golden Bears didn't, connecting on just three of their 25 shots from beyond the arc.
Add that with the fact that Andrej Stojakovic, one of the ACC's leading scorers, was limited to just six points in the game.
As we've known, this team thrives when it's able to get out in transition. Stops on the defensive side of the ball lead to opportunities to run the floor, as we saw the Tar Heels take advantage of this area throughout the contest.
After leading by 10 at the break, the UNC basketball program pulled away in the second half. North Carolina knocked down 47.7% of their shot attempts, as even an off night from RJ Davis (2-9 from the floor) didn't hold this group back.
Ian Jackson once again led the offensive charge, scoring a game-high 20 points. The freshman also contributed on the glass, pulling in seven rebounds.
Elliot Cadeau knocked down five of his seven first-half shots en route to 15 total points, while Seth Trimble contributed 12 points of his own. In total, 9 of the 10 Tar Heels who saw action scored.
Riding a four-game winning streak, the UNC basketball program will host another newcomer to the ACC, Stanford, on Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:15 PM, as the game will be televised live on the CW Network.