Tar Heels beat Terrapins 83-74

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – After trailing Maryland for much of Saturday’s game, No. 5 North Carolina beat the Terrapins 83-74.

Maryland led by as many as nine points in the second half, but clutch shooting from forward Harrison Barnes helped put the Tar Heels back on top with 9:19 left to play, and UNC held onto the lead for the rest of the contest.

Forward Tyler Zeller had 14 points in the first half, but the Tar Heels trailed at halftime for just the third time this season, 40-37.

Before the break, Terrapin bench players combined for 16 points, while UNC had just two points from reserves.

Kendall Marshall registered nine points and a Comcast Center record 16 assists against the Terrapins, marking the 16th time he’s had double-digit assists in his career.

But even though UNC held onto the lead late in the game, foul trouble made it challenging for the Tar Heels.

With more than eight minutes to play Saturday, Marshall and Zeller were both benched after picking up four fouls.

“It hurts to have Tyler and Kendall in foul trouble for that long,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “I took a chance with Kendall with eight minutes to play. I told him he had to be smart because we needed him in the game.”

And Williams’ risk paid off.

The Tar Heels played with composure down the stretch, and as time expired, forward John Henson put an exclamation point on the win with a one-handed dunk.

“Instinct kind of kicked in,” Henson said. “I’m happy with the decision (to dunk). He’d been blocking my shot all night.”

Barnes, who was listed as questionable prior to Saturday’s game after spraining his ankle, finished with 18 points, and Zeller led all scorers with 22.