RALEIGH — UNC's Christian Keeling and Justin Pierce have admitted they haven’t been at their best throughout the season.
But over three quarters of the way through the game against N.C. State, the North Carolina basketball team’s graduate transfers made a small, but crucial run in the Tar Heels' 75-65 win.
Keeling hit his first jumper of the game with 8:64 remaining. Then, he hit a second on UNC’s next possession. Immediately following that, Pierce hit his only shot of the night, swishing a 3-pointer from the corner.
While Keeling and Pierce have struggled for the Tar Heels this season, the seven straight points that North Carolina’s graduate transfers scored over just 1:19 of game time gave UNC a lead it would never relinquish.
“Coach just said ‘Be aggressive, if you’re gonna shoot the shot, then have the balls to make it,’” Keeling said. “They were open shots, they were good, quality shots.”
Pierce wasn’t available for post-game interviews, but junior forward Garrison Brooks offered up what the Tar Heels were thinking after the run.
“Keep the foot on the gas, keep being aggressive,” Brooks said. “We can’t afford to let up right now.”
N.C. State would cut the deficit to as little as four, but the graduate transfers' run gave them enough cushion to prevent giving up the lead. It's just a small portion of what Keeling and Pierce have done for UNC of late.
“We struggled for the majority of the season, but we know that these last games we need to contribute more so we can help us win on the defensive end and on the offensive end,” Keeling said.
