‘When we play like that, I feel like we can’t be beat’

As Marcus Paige sprinted up the court on a routine fast break, doubt crept into his mind.

Moments earlier, the North Carolina guard had missed his second 3-pointer in as many attempts. With under nine minutes left in the first half of Sunday’s 85-64 win over Pittsburgh, No. 9 UNC led by just six.

And as he and sophomore Justin Jackson — both mired in recent shooting woes — launched their offensive assault on the lone Panther defender, Paige knew what to expect.

“We always work on that in practice,” he said. “Getting in 2-on-1 situations, making the defense commit and then dishing the ball off.”

But as of late, the routine had betrayed the Tar Heels.

Once the top team in the land, North Carolina (21-4, 10-2 ACC) had dropped two of its past three games, its lone win coming in dramatic fashion against ACC-worst Boston College. Despite earning ACC Preseason Co-Player of the Year honors, Paige has struggled in his senior campaign.

So as Paige approached the basket against Pittsburgh (17-7, 6-6 ACC), the doubts resurfaced. He was too far away — he had to be. One hand or two?

But when Jackson dished the ball to Paige, the senior redefined the routine.

He took flight.

The two-handed slam granted Paige the first two of his 15 points and earned Jackson the second of his six assists on the day.

“We reverted away from the norm when we were in the slump,” Paige said. “Now we’re kind of back to being ourselves.”

After battling midseason struggles, Paige and Jackson have combined for 61 points in the previous two games. Against the Panthers, they were two of five Tar Heels to score in double-figures.

But amid their scoring breakouts, each recorded multiple assists — two of seven players to do so.

“That’s just the way we need to play,” said senior Brice Johnson, who added three dimes to his game-high 19 points. “That’s the way Coach (Roy Williams) wants us to play all the time.”

On Sunday, Williams had plenty to praise.

Of UNC’s 32 made field goals, 26 came off an assist — its highest total in ACC play this season.

“If you take care of the name on the front of the jersey, the name on the back of the jersey will be taken care of,” Williams said.

For North Carolina, it seemed everything had finally taken care of itself.

Returning to their typical starting lineup, the Tar Heels shot a season-high 59.3 percent from the field, 53.3 percent from behind the arc and 86.7 percent at the line.

UNC’s stifling defense held Pittsburgh to 37.3 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers — sparking 16 fast-break points.

Following the abysmal three-game road stretch, the Tar Heels seemed right at home.

“If we had swept through that (road trip), we’d be sitting pretty right now ...” Paige said. “(But) it’s the ACC — you can’t just run over everybody.”

Yet if UNC plays like it did on Sunday, conference foes will be hard-pressed to halt the preseason ACC favorites.

And with Duke coming to Chapel Hill on Wednesday, the Tar Heels are hoping their old identity is here to stay.

“When we play like that, I feel like we can’t be beat,” said wing Theo Pinson.

Maybe everything is back to normal, after all.

@CJacksonCowart

sports@dailytarheel.com