Monday would begin yet another week of crunch time basketball with March around the corner. Tonight we highlight some ACC action in the ever historic Dean Dome in Chapel Hill. North Carolina (16-9) would be up against it with time winding down in this years regular season. The Tar Heels would be brining in 15th ranked Miami (20-5) who is looking to eye in on a ACC regular season crown. With a lot still on the line for both of these teams this game meant carried heavy weight for March. Let's see how it played out.
Even first half
Well, if North Carolina was going to get a win tonight it was going to need a good start. It was perfect and didn't see UNC in the lead often, but it was very much a ballgame. Neither team would lead by more than six points in the opening half of play. The score was (9-9) at the first media timeout of the game. It would remain close the whole entire half and it was because of Love and Bacot combining for 22 points out of the 34 the Tar Heels put up in the first half. For Miami their offense is a thing to look at when it is in motion and Pack led the way for the Canes with 11 first half points. The big stat line for the Heels in the first half would be they shot just 1-11 from three-point shots. It wouldn't have a major effect on the score at the half but not what they would want to see. These teams would trade leads and stay within the five points of each other the whole time. The half would end on a hot note with the teams finishing 10/12 on field goals to end the opening half of action.
Canes second half getup
Maimi came out in the second half and were not playing around. Scoring the first four points of the half quickly extended their one point lead at the half to five in a blink of an eye. It wouldn't end their as the Canes would go on a major run to begin the second half of play. Maimi would outscore North Carolina 17 to six in the first eight minutes of the final 20. Pack just would not be stopped and he quickly added points in the second half. Helped by Miller Miami broke out to a 52-40 lead at the under 12 timeout. North Carolina would try to stabilize and did enough to cause a Cane timeout just two minutes after the lead went to 12. The energy wouldn't last long and Miller would heat up for Miami and extend the lead back to 12 at (59-47) at the under eight media timeout. Miller and Pack would both be at 20 points, and for UNC Bacot would have to be sat with four fouls. From the 12 minute mark to the under eight timeout the Heels were just one of their last nine field goal attempts. To this point they were a staggering (2/21) from three while being (18-27) on two point shots to that point. To close this game Miami wouldn't let UNC back in it until the final minute. The game would get tick-tacky late and would read (73-69) with just under 40 seconds remaining. Miami would put the finishing touches on and prevail 80-72.
Who stepped up?
Big time games need big time players and it is clear with who showed up tonight. The Hurricanes got quite the game from Nijel Pack and Jordan Miller. These two powered the way for the Hurricanes to keep control of this game. The pair provided 47 points for in a major way for the Hurricanes. North Carolina got big games from Davis and Love each going for 20 points plus. Miller's 23 points would prove huge and the threes that Pack hit would add along just as they needed.
Closing
It becomes danger time for North Carolina as they fall to (16-10) and do not have a high end win to show for it. Meanwhile for the Hurricanes they improve to (21-5) and look to be another team to watch out for in March.