GREENSBORO, N.C. — Following P.J. Hairston’s hand injury in North Carolina’s ACC tournament quarterfinal victory against Florida State on Friday, a solemn Roy Williams didn’t appear to be in the mood to celebrate.
After all, the sophomore guard needed eight stitches between the middle and ring fingers of his left hand and Williams was unsure about the status of the Tar Heels’ go-to shooter for Saturday’s semifinal matchup with Maryland.
“We’re extremely concerned right now,” Williams said Friday. “We have no idea, I have no idea, won’t have any idea…It doesn’t look good.”
Hairston was evaluated in pregame warm ups Saturday, though, and after being given the green-light to play, was right back in his normal starting spot for the tipoff, bandaged hand and all.
It took less than two minutes before a Hairston 3-pointer showed his coach just why he had nothing to worry about, and the Tar Heels overcame challenges all game long to squeak by the unrelenting Terrapins, 79-76.
UNC shot 43 percent from the floor in the first half. Maryland’s Dez Wells came into Saturday’s game with 51 combined points in the Terrapins’ first two ACC tournament wins, but Reggie Bullock’s unrelenting defense kept Wells from scoring for most of the first half. He went into the break, the Tar Heels leading 37-32, with just four points.
Though North Carolina seemed to have its way with Maryland throughout the first half, the Terrapins didn’t cower. UNC led by as many as 13 midway through the second half, but soon Wells found his stride and Maryland, which dominated in offense rebounds, attacked the boards to get back in the game.
At the 8:04 mark, UNC leading by just six, James Michael McAdoo picked up his fourth foul and headed to the bench, joining starting point Marcus Paige, who also had four.
Despite the newfound foul trouble, the Tar Heels proved that sharp shooting could get them out of the bind. Seconds later, Dexter Strickland heaved a cross-court pass to Bullock, who drained a deep bucket.