Bacot, No. 16 North Carolina hold off North Carolina Central

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Armando Bacot had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 16 North Carolina stopped a two-game slide by holding off North Carolina Central for a 73-67 victory Saturday.

Caleb Love and Day’Ron Sharpe scored 12 points apiece for the Tar Heels (4-2), and Andrew Platek finished with 11.

N.C. Central (1-3) scored the final nine points of the game. C.J. Keyser had 19 points for the Eagles, and Justin Whatley finished with 13.

The Tar Heels missed their first 10 3-point attempts before Platek connected from the right wing on consecutive possessions for a 55-42 lead. The reserve guard then added a fast-break layup.

North Carolina scored the final 10 points of the first half for a 30-28 lead, holding the Eagles scoreless for the last five minutes.

Nicolas Fennell had 11 points for N.C. Central and foul-plagued Jamir Moultrie finished with 10 points.

The game was added to the schedule in the middle of the week. North Carolina had an opening after a matchup with Elon was shelved when Elon’s program went on a coronavirus-related pause. N.C. Central had played only once since Nov. 26, with three games canceled.

BIG PICTURE

N.C. Central: The Eagles have faced more than one nationally ranked team for the first time since the 2014-15 season. They opened the season with a loss at Iowa, where the Tar Heels fell on Tuesday night.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels’ perimeter shooting has been under scrutiny after only one 3-point basket in the Maui Invitational final vs. Texas. Now in two home games, North Carolina is a combined 4 for 18 on 3s and every opponent has outscored the Tar Heels from beyond the arc. Platek had the only 3-pointers for North Carolina on Saturday.

UP NEXT

N.C. Central: Jan. 2 at South Carolina State in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener (unless a postponed home opener is rescheduled vs. Charleston Southern).

North Carolina: Next Saturday vs. Ohio State in Cleveland in its final scheduled non-conference game.