Tar Heels outlast Kentucky for statement win

With games scheduled against the top three preseason teams, it seemed unlikely that the North Carolina basketball team could escape December with three wins against marquee programs.

But Saturday evening, the No. 18 Tar Heels (7-2) completed the sweep and claimed a 82-77 victory against No. 11 Kentucky (8-3), the preseason top dog, in front of a thunderously loud whiteout crowd at the Smith Center.

As P.J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald sat courtside sans uniforms for the ninth game, it appeared even less likely UNC could run the gamut on three of the nation’s most talented programs.

“Coming into the season, none of y’all probably thought we were going to beat all three of them, let’s be honest,” said James Michael McAdoo, who finished with 20 points for the first time since Nov. 17. “So I think the biggest thing is just showing up ready to play.

“I think the biggest thing for me is, last year, we got killed in games like this — Indiana, down in Maui, so the biggest thing is it was really personal for all of us. We were able to win, so it helps.”

The secret to UNC’s success can’t be found in a stat line — it’s in the Tar Heels’ ability to maintain a stable mentality when adversity strikes.

“If a team makes a run, we haven’t folded yet,” guard Marcus Paige said. “We’ve done a great job of staying the course as our coaches always say. Where as last year, if a couple things went wrong, we could end up being down 20 like that, especially early in the year.

“This team is just a little more mentally tough. And part of that comes from myself and James Michael playing a bunch of minutes, having a lot of experience, and kind of helping these young guys get through it.”

The Tar Heels took their first lead of the game with five and a half minutes remaining in the first half, but couldn’t claim complete control of the game until the closing seconds.

Kentucky clawed its way back on top for brief spurts in the early minutes of the second half, propelled by baskets from twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison. But in the frenetically paced game, UNC matched Kentucky’s buckets with field goals of its own — never allowing the Wildcats to hold a lead for more than 28 seconds.

At the final media timeout of the game, the Tar Heels led the Wildcats by five points. Kentucky closed that lead to as few as three in the ensuing final three minutes.

“It was a stretch there in the fourth to say the least,” coach Roy Williams said.

But each time the Wildcats tried to steal momentum, UNC found an answer.

Andrew Harrison’s 3-pointer with 18 seconds to play cut UNC’s lead to four, but on the ensuing inbounds play, Kennedy Meeks lobbed a long pass to a waiting J.P. Tokoto, who finished the play with a layup.

Aaron Harrison knocked down a 3-pointer of his own with seven seconds remaining to cut the lead to three, but once again UNC answered — this time in the form of two free throws from Paige, who led all scorers with 23 points.

“I remember with the huddle with three minutes to go no matter what mistake we made prior to that, we still had a game to play and finish,” McAdoo said. “And we did that.”

With the win, UNC completed a feat that few outside the program could imagine, but one that each player inside the locker room believed possible.

“I always thought we would have a chance at every single one of the games,” Paige said.

“I’m not going to sit here and say I knew we were going to win every game against a top-ranked opponent, but at the same time, I saw the potential that we had, especially on the inside with our young guys. You just have to play every game.”

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