Wednesday afternoon, just hours before North Carolina’s matchup with Georgia Tech, coach Roy Williams announced that guard Leslie McDonald would miss the next three games while serving a suspension for an unexplained reason.
On the surface, it was a big blow for the Tar Heels. As far as P.J. Hairston was concerned, it was just one more motive to step up.
Hairston, just a week removed from his career day in a win against Florida State, scored 15 points Wednesday night in UNC’s 79-63 victory against the Yellow Jackets.
But possibly more significant for the Tar Heels, Hairston represented a bench presence that will still be felt in McDonald’s absence.
Before missing the last three games due to an ongoing knee injury, McDonald had been the Tar Heels’ leading scorer in wins against Mississippi State, University of Alabama–Birmingham and East Tennessee State.
“Of course I felt bad for him. We all want Leslie out here. But it is what it is. We have to keep moving,” Hairston said.
“I just have to come off and contribute and do all the little things to help my team.”
Hairston started the game strong, posting eight first half points in eight minutes on the court. At the 15:03 mark, Hairston asserted his presence early by sinking a wide-open 3-pointer from the corner of the floor, just steps away from the Georgia Tech bench.
Less than three minutes later, as if to ensure his opponents hadn’t forgotten about him, he did it again from the same spot, right under the Yellow Jackets’ noses.
