Despite getting a scare on the road from Boston College, the No. 9 North Carolina men’s basketball team was able to hold off the Eagles and secure a 90-82 victory in Chestnut Hill on Saturday.
The Tar Heels (18-3, 6-1 ACC) got all they could handle from Boston College (9-11, 2-5 ACC), as first-year point guard Ky Bowman scored 33 points on seven made 3-pointers. But Justin Jackson and Kennedy Meeks both scored at least 20 points and always had an answer when it looked like the Eagles were gaining momentum.
While there were moments of this game where UNC looked lackadaisical, it played with enough energy to take care of business in a trap game.
Foot off the gas
With six minutes remaining in the first half, North Carolina held a comfortable 27-17 lead and looked as if it had taken control of the game. But the Tar Heels were careless with the ball and went scoreless for nearly four minutes, as Boston College tied the game after 10 straight points by Bowman.
Although the Tar Heels went into the half with a 34-33 lead, they allowed a struggling team to gain confidence. Boston College then came out in the second half with the mindset that it could play with UNC, and the Eagles made North Carolina earn the win in the second half.
Berry delivers late
For the majority of the game, junior guard Joel Berry didn’t look like himself. He had a tough time staying in front of Bowman, and he was 2-of-8 from the floor with a pair of turnovers in the game's first 38 minutes.
But with just over a minute to play and North Carolina nursing a six-point lead, the shot clock was running out and Berry had to make a play.
