North Carolina’s 75-65 win against host Pittsburgh on Tuesday gives it a three-game winning streak for the third time this season.
But there’s a different feeling about the Tar Heels this time. They’re playing like this streak can last a while.
The Heels (11-5, 6-3 ACC) have won six of their last seven games, with a loss at Florida State being their lone setback. As of now, their next scheduled game isn’t until Tuesday at Clemson.
But UNC coach Roy Williams indicated Monday that he’s leaving open the possibility that the ACC could schedule a game for Saturday. The original schedule had the Heels playing Notre Dame on Saturday, but that game moved up to Jan. 2 when the Clemson game in Chapel Hill was postponed.
The Heels are closing the month a lot better than they began it, but that’s not to say things are perfect. When Carolina grabbed a 66-50 lead, its biggest of the game, it seemed to lose its intensity despite eight minutes still remaining in the game.
The Panthers went on a 13-2 run over the next four minutes to pull back within two possessions 68-63.
With the game getting tight, Carolina went back to what worked all game: getting the ball inside. Armando Bacot scored on a turnaround hook over Justin Champagnie to stop a 10-0 run. Bacot scored a team-high 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting and he added 10 rebounds.
On its ensuing possession, UNC guard Caleb Love made his only 3-pointer in the game for a 73-65 lead, and the Panthers could not mount another rally.
Carolina’s size proved too much for Pitt (8-4, 4-3), as it used 14 offensive rebounds for 18 second-chance points. Both of the Heels’ starting forwards Bacot and Garrison Brooks each scored double figures before halftime. Brooks finished with 16 points.
Champagnie, the leading candidate for ACC Player of the Year, led the Panthers with 23 points.
