The No. 20 UNC men's basketball team (4-4) fell, 94-79, to the No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-2) at the Dean E. Smith Center on Wednesday night.
The Tar Heels recorded their fourth straight game with double-digit turnovers while five Crimson Tide players reached double figures, resulting in their worst start through eight games since 2002. Even with a career-high 23 points from first-year guard Ian Jackson, it wasn't enough to overcome a messy defensive display from North Carolina and a 5-28 performance from the 3-point line.
"I just feel like we gotta a lot of growing through to [get better] as individuals and as a team," Jackson said.
UNC's play was messy in the opening five minutes. As the Crimson Tide started to heat up, North Carolina turned the ball over four times and went 2-7 from the field. Alabama made three of its last shots before the media timeout with 15:07 remaining.
Jackson worked to put North Carolina back in it while down 13-7. Grabbing the rebound, Jackson drove across the court for the layup. On the next possession, he found the net from behind the arc.
But Alabama guard Mark Sears put the run to a halt, making a layup and a three as North Carolina went on a three minute scoring drought. The Crimson Tide continued to light up from the 3-point line, pushing the Tar Heels to a 13 point deficit with a little over eight minutes remaining.
As the Crimson Tide reached a lull, North Carolina appeared to find a rhythm.
Powered by a layup from junior guard Seth Trimble, graduate guard RJ Davis drove to the basket on a fast break, drawing the foul with it. Junior forward Ven-Allen Lubin was fouled on the next possession and made both free throws. The Tar Heels found themselves down 31-24.
Just as UNC appeared to find its identity, Alabama swelled the lead again out to 10. But with the minutes dwindling in the first half, the Tar Heels pushed the deficit to seven to end the half with the help of senior forward Jae'Lyn Withers, a dunk from Jackson and a layup from graduate forward Ty Claude.
