UNC men's basketball comes back to defeat Tennessee, 73-71

The No. 7 North Carolina men's basketball team defeated Tennessee, 73-71, in the Smith Center on Sunday. The Tar Heels trailed by as many as 15 but were able to come back to pick up their 10th win of the season.

What happened?

The Volunteers (4-4) came into the game as one of the smallest teams in the country, boasting just one player over 6-foot-7, but the Tar Heels (10-1) were unable to take advantage in the first half. 

Forwards Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks and Tony Bradley combined for just 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting in the first half. Their teammates didn't do much to help, however, as North Carolina shot a combined 14-for-39 (35.9 percent) in the first 20 minutes. 

On the other end, Tennessee was knocking down shots from all over the court. The Volunteers shot a ridiculous 17-of-26 (65.4 percent) in the first half, the fourth-highest mark by an UNC opponent ever in the Smith Center. 

Tennessee entered the locker room with a 44-36 halftime lead, but the Tar Heels wouldn't go down quietly. 

North Carolina opened the second 20 minutes by scoring six straight points, cutting the lead to 44-42. The Tar Heels eventually tied the game at 50-50, but they couldn't quite change the momentum of the game. 

UNC and Tennessee traded baskets for the next 11 minutes until the Tar Heels were finally able to break through. With 2:14 left in the game, Justin Jackson drove to his left and knocked down a layup over two defenders, giving the Tar Heels a 70-69 lead. It was UNC's first lead since the 14:07 mark in the first half.

The Tar Heels held a 73-71 lead with nine seconds remaining in the game. Tennessee's Lamonte Turner drove to his left and floated the ball up in an attempt to tie the game, but Tony Bradley was there to reject the shot. The first-year came up with the board and helped UNC hang on for the win.

Who stood out?

Bradley was the catalyst for North Carolina's offensive success in the second half. After tallying just four points and four rebounds in the game's first 20 minutes, he finished with a double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds). 

His ability to run the floor in transition and slip down to the basket on screens for easy dunks gave North Carolina a lift when the team really needed one. He also came down with countless offensive rebounds, a feat that contributed to UNC's 25 second-chance points.

For Tennessee, Robert Hubbs III played an extremely efficient game offensively. The senior guard tallied 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, pacing Tennessee's attack while also contributing six rebounds. North Carolina was able to clamp down on him in the second half — where he only scored six points — but Hubbs III showed he can be an effective player against a really good team.

When was it decided?

The second half of the game was a battle, with neither side amassing a lead of more than five points for the final 17 minutes of the game. But Bradley's block and defensive rebound in the waning seconds proved the deciding factor.

Why does it matter?

Sunday's game against Tennessee shows the Tar Heels could be in trouble if Joel Berry comes back from his ankle injury later than expected. 

The Tar Heel were horrid on the offensive end for most of the night, shooting 29-of-73 (39.7 percent) from the field and an abysmal 2-of-17 (11.8 percent) from 3-point land. 

Jackson and Nate Britt, the players tasked with picking up the slack, went a combined 7-of-29 from the field. If they can't step up consistently, North Carolina might continue to struggle on offense.

Where do they play next?

The Tar Heels now travel to Las Vegas, where they will take on No. 6 Kentucky at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday.

@jbo_vernon

sports@dailytarheel.com