Category: Men's basketball

Bacot passes legend, pulling down history in impressive UNC win 

CHAPEL HILL — When Armando Bacot came out of the game with 20 seconds left, his first move was to embrace Tyler Hansbrough. One North Carolina legend hugged another after Bacot surpassed Psycho-T to become the program’s all-time leading rebounder. The record was an exclamation point on an impressive 80–69 Tar Heels victory Saturday over N.C. State at the Smith Center, their third in a row to snap the Pack’s four-game win streak. Carolina (14–6, 6–3 ACC) pulled into a tie for third place in the ACC, two games out of first place.

Tar Heels in NBA: Anthony, perfect from line, hits 22; Bullock’s hot shooting continues with five 3s

Cole Anthony came off the Orlando bench with one of his best games of the season in the Magic’s return home after a 2–3 West Coast road trip. Anthony was efficient with 22 points in 26 minutes with two 3-pointers, three rebounds and four assists while going 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. That helped the Magic ease past the New Orleans Pelicans 123–110 on Friday.

Tar Heels in NBA: Johnson scores 19 in return, makes big plays to help Suns end skid

When Cameron Johnson checked into the game midway through the first quarter, he got a huge ovation from the Phoenix crowd. In his first game in more than two months, the cheers got louder when Johnson scored two 3-pointers his first few minutes on his first three shots. He finished with 19 points in 22 minutes to help the Suns snap a three-game losing streak with a 117–112 victory Thursday over the Brooklyn Nets.

Tar Heels in NBA: Barnes hits 20 for streaking Kings; Bullock, subject of trade rumor, scores 18; Two Kessler double-doubles, including season-high

Harrison Barnes continues to stack up impressive performances, leading the Sacramento Kings to their best season in years. Barnes collected 20 points, two 3-pointers, six rebounds and two assists as the Kings won their fifth straight with a 116–111 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers to move into third place in the Western Conference at 25–18.

Walton has best game of season with 4 3-pointers; Garcia hits 17; Francis scores season-high

Since transferring to Texas Tech, Kerwin Walton hasn’t had many chances to show what he can do. But he took advantage of his opportunity on Tuesday night. Playing 22 minutes, the most in a Big 12 Conference game, Walton scored 12 points and four 3-pointers, both season-highs, at home against No. 21 Baylor. The bad news is that the Red Raiders (10–8, 0–6 Big 12) lost 81–74 for their sixth consecutive defeat.

Tar Heels in NBA: Barnes hits 29 in Kings’ 4th straight win; White solid again; Little scores 10 in return

On the night that Nassir Little returned after missing 22 games over six weeks, Harrison Barnes and the high-scoring Sacramento Kings just kept rolling. Barnes scored 29 points and four 3-pointers to lead the Kings to their fourth consecutive victory, 132–119 at San Antonio on Sunday night. It was the second consecutive game and third in the last four that Barnes has scored at least 27 points and at least three 3-pointers.

Watching UNC-BC game could be challenge for some fans

For the final time this season, a Carolina men’s basketball game will air on regional sports networks. That means that it could be a challenge for some fans who can’t make it to the Smith Center on Tuesday night to watch the 7 o’clock game against Boston College. Your regional sports network depends on where you live, with the possibilities including Bally Sports regional networks, MASN, NESN, Yes Network or Marquee Sports Network.

Tar Heels in NBA: Bullock scores season-high with career-high 8 3s, Pinson has best game of season for Mavs; Kessler seventh double-double

Reggie Bullock has traditionally played better in his NBA career after the new year, and that trend kicked in Saturday night when he and teammate Theo Pinson both had their best games of the season. Bullock hit a career-high eight 3-pointers (on 10 shots) and scored a season-high 24 points for a season-high 21.3 game score in the Dallas Mavericks’ 136–119 loss at Portland on Saturday night in his best game in more than four years. Pinson collected 11 points, three 3-pointers, three assists and a 10.1 game score, all season-highs.

Bacot’s return sparks Heels, Dunn has breakout game in UNC win

Armando Bacot looked a little gimpy at times, but he was a warrior as always, and played through a left-ankle injury. It was just the boost North Carolina needed as he led a decisive first-half run that gave the Tar Heels control on their way to an 80–59 victory Saturday at Denny Crum Court in Louisville, Ky. The breakout performance for UNC (12–6, 4–3 ACC) on both ends of the court, though, was from 6–5 sophomore D’Marco Dunn, who collected 14 points, two 3-pointers, five rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes, all career-highs, while playing excellent defense on El Ellis, Louisville’s leading scorer.

Tar Heels in NBA: White has best game of season amid trade rumors; Barnes hits 27 for surging Kings; Kessler blocks 7 shots

Coby White had his best game of the season amid trade rumors, and Harrison Barnes kept putting up big numbers for the surging Sacramento Kings on Friday night. White produced season-highs of 19 points, four 3-pointers, seven field goals, six rebounds and a 16.3 game score to go with a team-high six assists in a season-high 33 minutes. Barnes scored 27 points and eight 3-pointers with seven rebounds and three assists as Sacramento rolled to a 139–114 home win over Houston for the Kings’ third consecutive win.

Bacot, Nance progressing but playing at Louisville unlikely, Hubert Davis said

CHAPEL HILL — Coach Hubert Davis suggested Friday that it is doubtful that either Armando Bacot or Pete Nance will play Saturday at Louisville. Davis said that Bacot, who rolled his left ankle in the first two minutes of Thursday’s loss at Virginia, is further along in his recovery than Nance and that Bacot was “still very questionable, at best” to play against the Cardinals.