Cade Tyson’s career breakout game vs. La Salle fueled by UNC teammates, extra work

You never know what you’ll get from the North Carolina Tar Heels in any given basketball game.

One day, it’ll be fastbreak opportunities leading UNC to victory. The next, it’ll be Ven-Allen Lubin taking over the post. 3-point shooting and lack of height cost North Carolina in past defeats.

On Saturday, December 14 in the Tar Heels’ dominant, 93-67 victory over the La Salle Explorers, junior Cade Tyson rose to the occasion and delivered a career performance.

Tyson, the Belmont (Tenn.) University transfer who Hubert Davis recruited largely because of his perimeter shooting abilities, poured in a UNC-best 23 points off the bench.

In 21 minutes, Tyson made nine of his 14 shot attempts, including a 5-of-10 mark from downtown. Tyson’s individual highlights including making two, second-half 3-pointers in under a minute, plus a late dunk in which he shook the backboard.

“I never know what’s going to happen when I go into the game,” Tyson said in postgame interviews. “I kind of just let it fly today. I just try and control the controllables, but I felt good all week, just due to my extra work off the court and on the court as well. My teammates did a great job setting me up today and, thankfully, some shots went in.”

Tyson’s career day was a microcosm of North Carolina’s efficient offense, which shot 53.7 percent from the field. RJ Davis (13 points), Seth Trimble and Ven-Allen Lubin (10 points each) joined Tyson in double-figures.

The Tar Heels will need every bit of today’s Cade Tyson on Tuesday, Dec. 17 when it faces undefeated Florida in the Jumpman Invitational. UNC should seriously consider starting the 6’7″ Tyson, as he gives UNC a Stretch Four that creates issues for the opposition.