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Sports

Bacot Has Career Day in Win Over UVA

Thomas Tripp

CHAPEL HILL, NC – Armando Bacot had career highs of 29 points and 22 rebounds to lead North Carolina to a 74-58 win over Virginia on Saturday.

He joined Sean May, as the second Tar Heel to pull down 20 rebounds three times at the Smith Center. This was his seventh consecutive double-double, as he is currently second in the nation.

Graduate Forward Brady Manek was second on the team with 19 points and five assists during the game. He drained five three-pointers. The Tar Heels have won all eight of their games at the Dean Dome this season. Caleb Love also played well, adding 16 points.

“Our team is really good when Caleb Love plays well! I thought there were a number of ways that Caleb plays a terrific game.” He added, “In a number of games, he led our team in assists. He has an unbelievable year, being one of the best guards in the country.”

“I just want to set the tone early and be the best me,” commented Bacot. “Coming off the loss to Notre Dame, I was upset. One of the things I set for the new year is to be energized and to give my all! As being a leader, I have to do a better job in having us energized.”

Early in the first half, it was tight at the Dean Dome, as Bacot was the focal point, when the Heels led 6-5, with 15:53 in the 1st Half. He was so focused, that he finished the Half with a dozen points, along with Caleb Love’s 10 points, as the Heels led at the Half, by the score of 31-25.

The Tar Heels (11-4 overall, 3-1 ACC) opened the second half with five consecutive points, where they forced Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett to call a timeout. This was when Bacot recorded his double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, at the time. Carolina led 36-25, with 18:04 remaining.

Later on, the Heels went on a 7-0 scoring run, thanks to Bacot and Love, as they led 54-38 with 11:40 remaining. This was when they recorded 13 assists and five turnovers as a team.

Sophomore guard Reece Beekman led the Cavaliers with 13 points, while Junior Guard Armaan Franklin added 12 points.

Next Saturday, the Tar Heels welcome Georgia Tech in the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill at 8:00 PM, in a game televised on ACC Network. On the other hand, Virginia (9-5 overall, 3-1 ACC) hosts in-state rival, Virginia Tech at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA, in a 9:00 PM game on ESPN2 on Wednesday Night.