Tar Heels Fall To Virginia On The Road

CHARLOTTSVILLE, VA – The North Carolina Tar Heels traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia Saturday afternoon after what was a rollercoaster of a week for the Tar Heels, and fell to the Virginia Cavaliers 60-48. This is the fourth straight game where the Tar Heels didnt score 50 points at Virginia.

Coming into this matchup, the Tar Heels have dominated the glass this season, as they lead the nation in rebound margin (+11.0), rank second in offensive rebounds (15.1 per game) and fourth in rebounds per game (42.6). They also have three players averaging seven or more rebounds for the first time since the 1969-1970 season.

Neither team could hit a shot through nearly the first three minutes, before Caleb Love picked off a pass and turned it into the first two points of the game with a monster dunk. Virginia responded with two three-pointers to hold a 6-2 lead at the first media timeout. Through the first five minutes of the game, the teams combined to shoot 3-of-15 from the field.

After scoring the first two points, UNC did not score for over four and a half minutes and allowed the Cavaliers to go on a 13-0 run to jump out to a 13-2 lead with 12:13 minutes remaining in the first half. Virginia dominated the next 7 minutes.

As the Cavaliers went cold and didn’t score for over three minutes, North Carolina was able to cut the deficit to 7 as they went on a 8-0 run late in the first half. After Virginia extended the lead back to ten, the Tar Heels were able to cut it back down to seven with a minute and a half left in the first half. Virginia extended the lead to nine and held a 27-18 lead at the half.

Through the first 20 minutes North Carolina struggled offensively, as they shot 8-32 (25%) from the field. Carolina was led by Armando Bacot and Day’ron Sharpe with four points each. Virginia was led by Jay Huff with nine points and six rebounds. The Tar Heel defense was able to hold the Cavaliers to just 37.5% shooting in the first half.

Trey Murphy III and Sam Hauer scored the Cavaliers first nine points of the second half to extend to lead to 14 early in the second half, before Kerwin Walton knocked down a three-pointer to cut the lead to 11 with 16:25 left in the game.

Although the Tar Heel offense continued to struggle, their defense was able to keep them in the game, as they only trailed by nine with just under ten minutes to play. Virginia tried to blow the game open as they extended the lead to 13, but North Carolina didn’t give in, as they cut the lead back to nine with five minutes to play. 

That was the closest the Tar Heels could get in the final minutes, as Virginia never took their foot off the gas pedal and didn’t allow the Tar Heels to get any closer.

North Carolina was led by Walker Kessler with nine points and five rebounds and Kerwin Walton with eight points. Virginia was led by Jay Huff with 18 points and 12 rebounds and Sam Hauser with 17 points. The Tar Heels struggled offensively all game, as they only managed to shoot 20-58 (34.5%) from the field. The Tar Heels only turned the ball over eight times, after they came into the contest averaging 15 per game. 

North Carolina, (12-7, 7-5 ACC) takes a week off, before hosting the Louisville Cardinals Saturday February 20^th at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill. Tip-off is set for 6 PM on ESPN.