Platek hits 18, has Siena in thick of MAAC race; Francis’ team keeps rolling; Walton’s team pulls two upsets

With five games left in the regular season, Siena is in a battle for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title, thanks to another big performance Sunday from Andrew Platek. Platek scored 18 points and four 3-pointers, with four rebounds and three assists, as the Saints earned a 73–65 home victory over Marist. It was Platek’s sixth game this season with at least 18 points and seventh with three or more assists. Platek was +19 in 29 minutes.

UNC can’t overcome worst perimeter shooting of season against Miami

CHAPEL HILL — For one half, it looked like it might be a night where Carolina starts the early process of flipping the switch on the season. As one 3-point attempt after another rattled off the rim in the second half, it was apparent that Miami would have none of that.

By the time the Tar Heels tried to fight back in the last 10 minutes, it was too late as No. 15 Miami held on for an 80–72 victory Monday at the Smith Center.

UNC falls, Pack out of Top 25 women’s poll ahead of Thursday game; McPherson rookie of week

North Carolina and N.C. State both fell in the latest AP Top 25 women’s poll after losses last week ahead of Thursday’s big clash in Raleigh. The Tar Heels (18–7, 9–5 ACC), who rebounded from a 75–67 Thursday loss at Syracuse to roll past Boston College 73–55 at home Sunday, slipped five spots to No. 19. The Wolfpack (17–8, 7–7) lost 71–59 Sunday at Virginia, its third defeat in the last five meetings, to fall out of the poll after being ranked No. 22 a week ago.

Eight is enough for No. 14 UNC, thanks to McPherson’s career game, 11 3s, tough defense

CHAPEL HILL — No. 14 North Carolina’s numbers Sunday were daunting: three of eight available players were freshmen, three regular starters were out, and three Tar Heels were making their first career starts. It was easy to overcome all that against one of the worst teams in the ACC since one of those freshmen was guard Kayla McPherson, and UNC made an ACC-season-high 11 3-pointers.

Tar Heels in NBA: Johnson, his ‘twin’ knew since June that they might end up in Brooklyn; Cavs sign Green

Cameron Johnson joined the new-look Brooklyn Nets, and was one of four newcomers who started in Saturday night’s home game against Philadelphia. Johnson and Mikal Bridges, nicknamed “The Twins” by former Suns teammate Deandre Ayton because they spent so much time together, each started in the Nets’ 101–98 loss to the Sixers. Joining them in the lineup were Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney, who Brooklyn got in the Kyrie Irving deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Good Bad and Ugly Report: Clemson

Now that’s more like it. After a blech performance at Wake Forest on Tuesday night in a game where UNC was expected to play with some urgency, followed by Armando Bacot questioning his team, a players-only meeting, and a social media kerfuffle about possible issues on the squad, Carolina responded on Saturday with a 91–71 drubbing of formerly league-leading Clemson at the Smith Center.