UNC men's basketball escapes turnovers, 3-point struggles to defeat Georgia Tech, 86-78

In their second ACC game of the season, the No. 7 North Carolina men's basketball team overcame several offensive issues and miscues to squeak by a fiery Georgia Tech team by a score of 86-78. 

The Yellow Jackets (10-4, 0-1 ACC) had not beaten UNC (13-2, 2-0 ACC) since 2011, but as the game opened, it was clear that they weren't going to let past matchups dictate their performance. 

Georgia Tech caught fire early from 3-point range, as graduate transfer Adam Smith knocked down 4-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. 

The Tar Heels weren't nearly as lethal from long range as their opponents. The team managed just one 3-point basket in seven attempts. 

North Carolina was also hindered by an abundance of turnovers in the first half. 

UNC committed seven in the first half, which led to eight Yellow Jacket points and allowed Georgia Tech to build a nine point lead with less than five minutes left in the half.

But behind the play of Marcus Paige, the Tar Heels were able to battle back before the break. 

The senior guard tallied eight points in the first half, six of which came in the final five minutes of the half.

The Yellow Jackets headed in to the locker room at halftime with a 42-39 lead, and as the second period opened, they didn't let off the gas. 

Behind the play of Smith and Charles Mitchell, Georgia Tech maintained the lead it had accrued in the first half. 

But a few quick baskets by Isaiah Hicks and Justin Jackson knotted the score at 57 with 12-and-a-half minutes left. And at the 11:54 mark, senior forward Brice Johnson slammed one home to give the Tar Heels their first lead in roughly 23 minutes.

Over the next several minutes, North Carolina and Georgia Tech traded baskets and the lead. 

But right around the five minute mark, Joel Berry took over. 

With 5;04 remaining, the sophomore guard nailed a 3-point basket off of a dish from Paige. On the Tar Heels next possession, Berry received the ball on the break, drove the lane, absorbed a foul and finished at the rim. After a made free throw, the Tar Heels lead stood at 72-67. 

From their, the North Carolina never crept below four, and as the final horn sounded, the Tar Heels captured their second ACC win of the season and their seventh-straight victory over the Yellow Jackets.

Quotable

"It was a Joel (Berry) and Joel (James) party there for awhile tonight and I was happy they were both with us." — UNC Coach Roy Williams on the play of Joel Berry and Joel James.

Notable

In just 21 minutes Saturday, North Carolina senior forward Joel James tied a career-high with 11 points, which he has done on two previous occasions. At one point in the first half, he scored six-straight points for the Tar Heels.

Three numbers that matter

14: Prior to Saturday's game against Georgia Tech, UNC's opponents averaged seven points per game off of turnovers. The Yellow Jackets tallied 14 points off of 11 North Carolina turnovers Saturday.

19: After a slow first half, Berry put up a career high 19 points, 15 of which came in the second half.

2: After allowing the Yellow Jackets to knock down five 3-pointers in the first half, North Carolina shored up its perimeter defense, and held Georgia Tech to two made triples on seven attempts.

What's next?

The Tar Heels travel to Tallahassee, Florida on Monday, where they will face Florida State at 7 p.m.

sports@dailytarheel.com

@jbo_vernon