For the third-straight game, the UNC basketball program struggled out of the gate in the first half and had to rely on a second-half run to get the job done.
But they almost played with fire too much on Tuesday night.
The Tar Heels held off a late run from Gardner-Webb to pull out the 72-66 win to move to 3-0 on the year. And a big reason why was the play of Pete Nance in this one.
Nance started on fire for UNC, scoring 14 of the Heels’ first 18 points to help them keep pace in the first half. Despite Nance’s spark, it would take a little bit longer for the rest of the team to catch on fire as Gardner-Webb kept the score close for the entirety of the first half.
Both teams struggled to find the basket in the first 20 minutes of action as Gardner-Webb shot 10 for 33, as UNC shot 9 for 31. The Bulldogs also won the rebound battle in the first half, 23 to North Carolina’s 22.
UNC ended the first half with a slim 26 – 22 lead over Gardner-Webb.
Much like the other two games this season, the second-half painted a different picture for UNC as the number 1 ranked team in the nation began to pour it on.
North Carolina started the second half on a 10-0 run, with eight points coming from Caleb Love. The team began to play as a cohesive unit, showcasing the ball movement for better shot opportunities that were lacking in the first half.
After 10 minutes of play in the second half, UNC was the better team, showcasing their dominance as the lead continued to climb. That lead did not last long as the Bulldogs fought back late to keep the game within five with under two minutes left on the clock.
But UNC was able to hold off that late charge and avoid the upset.
Nance and Love combined for 38 of North Carolina’s points. Nance finished with 18 points, five rebounds, and three blocks. Meanwhile, Love led all scorers with 20 points and contributed five rebounds and four assists.
UNC will be back in action on Sunday as they take on 4-0 James Madison at the Dean Smith Center.
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