SPOKANE, Wash. _ North Carolina, which was playing without its best player (Cole Anthony), knew that its game against No. 2 Gonzaga wouldn't be easy.
Anthony was the biggest source for the Tar Heels' offense, and without him, they had to figure out how to make up 19.1 points per game.
They tried, but ultimately the Zags were too much as they beat the Tar Heels, 94-81, in front of a sold out arena at McCarthey Athletic Center.
The game was sold out, and tickets at the 6,000-seat arena, were said to be in the thousands of dollars. In downtown Spokane, fans held a watch party at a local restaurant.
As the game reached its end, Gonzaga fans began to yell phrases like "We want Wofford," and "N-I-T."
UNC junior Garrison Brooks led the Tar Heels with 16 points. He also grabbed six rebounds. Graduate transfer Christian Keeling had 12 points.
The Tar Heels (6-5, 1-1 ACC) have now lost five of their last six games, including four straight. It is the first time UNC has lost four consecutive games since the 2010 season. That year, UNC missed out on the NCAA Tournament. It was one of only two times in Williams' head coaching career that his team did not make the NCAA Tournament.
This game, while just as lopsided as the loss to Ohio State, was different. The Tar Heels played hard, and but were overmatched by the Zags.
The Zags were clearly the superior team.
A Brooks dunk two minutes into the second half cut the Zags' lead to five points. However, the Zags answered with a 16-3 run over the next 3 { minutes to take a 60-42 lead with 14:13 left.
The Tar Heels answered with a 5-0 run. But it was quickly put to a stop after Gonzaga's Killian Tillie knocked down a deep 3-pointer on a broken play before the shot clock expired.
After that, the Tar Heels never got within 10 points.
