The UNC men’s basketball team responded exactly how it needed to on Friday afternoon, beating Arkansas by an 87-72 mark and capturing third place in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Carolina didn’t let Cormac Ryan’s injury affect its scoring production, with R.J. Davis and Seth Trimble delivering stellar guard play. Davis led all Tar Heels with a season-high 30 points, while Trimble delivered a season-high 12 points.
There was a bit of concern early in Friday’s matchup, though, as Carolina trailed 38-35 at halftime. There was a certain Razorback – Tramon Mark – who was practically automatic from the field. Mark finished his night with 34 points, but not before leaving with a scary injury late in the second-half.
Whatever UNC head coach Hubert Davis said at halftime must’ve worked, because his players came out with a fire and, when leading late, didn’t let Arkansas get within a comfortable margin. Elliot Cadeau fouled out for the second-straight game, but that was about the only sizable blunder Carolina committed in half two.
UNC also distanced itself late by dominating the boards, a staple of Carolina basketball. The Tar Heels out-rebounded the Razorbacks by a 38-27 mark, with Stanford transfer Harrison Ingram grabbing 10 of them as part of a double-double.
Let’s hear what Hubert Davis has to say after the big win: