Bench scoring and efficient 3-point shooting allowed the No. 9 North Carolina men’s basketball team (9-3) to rout Charleston Southern (4-9), 105-60, in UNC’s final non-conference matchup of the season on Friday night in the Dean E. Smith Center.
The Tar Heels’ gauntlet of ranked opponents over the past month and a half has proved to be the 11th most challenging non-conference schedule in the nation, according to KenPom ratings. But with an eight day break over the holiday season, North Carolina looked fresh, to say the least.
“The three practices leading up to this game I thought – in terms of attention to detail the energy, the effort, and enthusiasm – was right where I wanted it to be,” head coach Hubert Davis said.
Senior guard RJ Davis recorded his first career double-double with 20 points and 10 assists, while sophomore forward Jalen Washington also broke a personal record securing a career-high 17 points and seven rebounds.
Davis picked up right where he left off before the hiatus, by cashing in on a trio of pick and rolls with graduate center Armando Bacot. Davis’ two-man game with the Bacot led to a mid range pull up, spot up 3-pointer and scoop layup all before the under-16 media timeout.
UNC turned up the pressure midway through the first period, causing the Buccaneers to turn the ball over, leading to a 12-point run for the Tar Heels — nine of which came from the bench.
Davis and Bacot continued to link up for baskets late into the first half. Surveying the court from the wing, Davis whipped a bounce pass into the short corner where Bacot corralled the ball. In one step, the big man elevated to throw down a goal-shaking slam.
“I was able to get guys involved,” Davis said. “I saw [Washington] pop for two threes, and then I was able to find Mando down low.”
Washington further padded North Carolina’s lead before the halftime buzzer. Coming off the bench, the stretch big displayed his shooting ability from beyond the arc with a pair of catch-and-shoot threes as well as an athletic dunk to finish the half a perfect 5-5 from the field.
