Tar Heels; Davis Wins Big In Coaching Debut
CHAPEL HILL, NC – The 19th-ranked Tar Heels made sure that their first-year head coach, Hubert Davis, who played for the Tar Heels from 1988-92, earned a victory in his debut.
They did not disappoint, as they defeated the Loyola (Maryland) Greyhounds by the score of 83-67, in front of 14,992 fans at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
On his first game, Davis commented, “Well, the process was the same as the exhibition game against Elizabeth City.” He added, “It’s basketball. It’s our team. It’s our program. In terms of our program, it’s the same.” His family, including his roommate and teammate, Pete Chilcutt, who played for UNC from 1987-1991, was in attendance. Also, his oldest son, Elijah attended the game. Elijah is a freshman at Lynchburg University in Virginia and is on the basketball team.
Sophomore Guard Caleb Moore (St. Louis, Missouri) led the Tar Heels with 22 points, while Oklahoma transfer Graduate Student Forward Brady Manek, followed up with 20 points. For the Greyhounds, Senior Guard Jaylin Andrews (Owings Mills, MD) led the way with 17 points, while Junior Guard Cam Spencer (Davidsonville, Maryland) followed it up with 15.
The Tar Heels opened the game with a 6-0 run with two three-pointers from Moore and Manek, at 18:28 in the first half. They followed it up with a 15-3 run, as their balanced and efficient scoring paid off.
At one point in the first half, the Greyhounds cut the deficit to ten, making seven of twelve shots from the floor.
The Tar Heels took a 45-31 halftime lead. At that point, Caleb Love led the Heels with 12 points, while Kenny Jones – a Senior Guard from Hillside, NJ, led the Greyhounds with 10 points and three rebounds.
The Tar Heels refused to let the crowd down at the Dean Dome, as they did most of their damage. Thanks to baskets from Manek and Moore. Manek had a nice layup, during 18:04 in the 2nd Half, with the Heels leading by the score of 47-34.
You also have to give credit to the Tar Heel defense, as they didn’t allow the Greyhounds to go 4:25 without making a basket.
“Just seeing family and friends in the stands was a very emotional moment,” Davis stated. Plus, he explained, “It was a big deal. I understand the impact that my position has. I understand what the program has done in the past and what we plan on doing in the future.”
Davis played a dozen years in the NBA (1992-2004), for the New York Knicks (1992-96), Toronto Raptors (1996-97), Dallas Mavericks (1997-2001), Washington Wizards (2001-02), Detroit Pistons (2002-04) and New Jersey Nets (2004). He is the nephew of former UNC star, Walter Davis, who played for the Tar Heels from
1973-77.”
For the Tar Heels, their next game is at home against Brown University at the Smith Center, on Friday, at 9 PM. The game will be on ACC Network. For Loyola (Maryland), their next game is against South Carolina State in Charleston, SC, in the Rising Coaches Classic, at 4 PM.