Tar Heels Survive Scare from Pilots

PORTLAND, OR – The top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (5-0 overall) received a surprise test in the opening round of the Phil Knight Invitational.

Thanks to 28 points from Graduate Student Forward Pete Nance and 23 points from Junior Guard Caleb Love, the Tar Heels survived a scare from the host Portland Pilots (4-3), 89-81, in front of 19,441 fans in the Moda Center – Home of the Portland Trailblazers of the NBA.

“I’m not surprised of it at all,” Davis reflected when asked if he was surprised how the outcome went. On Portland’s team, Davis commented, “They have seven or eight returning players and they have tremendous experience.” He added, “They know how to play and they play well together. It’s interesting that the position that we’re in is with the expectation of how it should look.”

The Pilots opened up the game when Junior Forward Moses Wood drained a three-pointer at 18:49, to put Portland up 3-0 over the Heels. Afterwards, Heels Junior Guard RJ Davis responded with a three-pointer to tie it up at three apiece, at 18:22.

The Pilots seized the lead when Guard Jack Perry drilled a three-pointer to put Portland up, 6-3 with 17:39. Then, the Heels went on a 12-5 run, to take the 9-6 lead at 16:16, thanks to baskets from Leaky Black, Caleb Love and Senior Armando Bacot. Portland refused to give up, as they trailed the Heels by the score of 40-38 at the Half.

Portland opened up the second half with a 41-40 lead, as Senior Forward Kristan Sjolund drilled a three with 19:44 remaining. Shortly, Pete Nance hit a jumper, for the Heels to take the lead 42-41. At 16:12 and 11:30 was when the Pilots took their largest leads of the game, as they led 53-48 and 64-59, respectively.

The Tar Heels battled back, thanks to baskets from Black, Bacot, Nance and Love.

On the the Heels intensity, Coach Davis reflected, “No, I wasn’t. I was satisfied with it at times. When we needed to rebound, we did. When we needed to score, we did. When we needed to stop, we did. We didn’t perform at the consistent rate we need to, in order to have success.”

On the 10:00 AM early start time for the Heels, Nance admitted, “I think we let it affect us a little bit. We can’t make excuses, when that ball is thrown up, we must be ready to play.” He added, “All the credit to my teammates for finding me in my spots to get me going.”

RJ Davis, who finished with 13 points, reflected, “We’re only three games in. Everyone expects us to be a Final Four and a National Championship team. We have new players and we must have to be focused and have disciplined. It has to take time.” He added, “You have to fall in love with the hard times. It’s not always going to be pretty and fun. It’ll be also be difficult.”

The Heels will face Iowa State in the Semifinal Round of the Phil Knight Invitational. The game will be at 6:30 PM on ESPN.