Rapid Evaluation: Once more chilly capturing at UNC, Pittsburgh can’t clear up

CHAPEL HILL, NC — North Carolina didn’t untie Pittsburgh once more. The Panthers conceded a 65-64 loss to the Tar Heels Wednesday night time in ACC basketball on the Smith Middle when Jamarius Burton’s two free throws made the distinction by 3.4 seconds.

UNC got here from the apron with 0.6 seconds to go, and Caleb Love tried to go away a fading 3-pointer denied by Pitt’s Nike Sibande. The blocked shot made the Panthers have a good time because the final horn sounded. Pitt picked up his fifth win within the final six conferences between these groups and has received three visits in a row right here at Chapel Hill.

The Tar Heels (15-7 total, 7-4 ACC), coming back from a seven-day break between video games, suffered their first dwelling lack of the season however missed an opportunity to get previous Pitt (16-7, 9-3) and sole possession of third place within the crowded league standings. UNC went into the night time 10-0 at dwelling, together with 5-0 in ACC video games.

However this was a persistently struggle for the Tar Heels, who shot simply 34.8 p.c from the sector, together with 18.5 p.c from 3-point vary and 59.1 p.c from the free throw line, as their four-game successful streak ended went. UNC went 1-for-14 previous the 3-point arc within the second half however led 46-40 when Pete Nance transformed on a chopping bucket within the lane, bending his arms in a fired response.

Love’s 22 factors surpassed UNC. Armando Bacot (15 factors, 11 rebounds) and Nance (13 factors) have been additionally in double figures. Bacot and RJ Davis mixed capturing 6-for-25 from the sector and 11-for-19 from the free-throw line.

Nelly Cummings linked with 5 3-pointers and delivered 21 factors to hurry up Pitt. Burton completed the sport with 19 factors on 6-for-18 capturing whereas generally giving the Tar Heels matches on methods to match defensively. UNC defensive specialist Leaky Black was booed for his third and fourth foul on consecutive calls within the first 4 minutes of the second half.

Burton broke out for a career-high 31 factors 5 weeks in the past because the Panthers received the primary matchup of the season between these groups in Pittsburgh. Finally, he once more pursued the Tar Heels on Wednesday night time with the game-winning free throws.

UNC later fell seven factors thrice within the closing 9½ minutes of the sport and have been 61-55 behind with lower than 5 minutes to go earlier than taking a 64-63 lead with 1:07 to go on Bacot’s free throws.

UNC’s Armando Bacot is capturing Wednesday night time. (Photograph: Jim Hawkins / Inside Carolina, 247Sports)

Armando Bacot beneath wraps early

Bacot, who began because the second-best scorer within the ACC, didn’t high the scoring charts till 5:06 of the primary half. His gradual begin picked up considerably quickly after as the massive man scored 5 straight factors whereas the Tar Heels didn’t change ends of the court docket.

Burton had a turnover with 4:38 remaining and UNC successfully held the ball till the three:43 mark. Nance stored alive two of Bacot’s missed free throws on the offensive boards when Bacot pinched free throws round a bucket from a deep post-up to make his five-point cease this aspect of the court docket.

He completed the sport 3-of-10 from the ground and 9-of-15 from the free throw line.

Caleb Love’s energetic begin

Love began early Wednesday night time with 13 first-half factors, a begin that didn’t have the identical effectivity as in final week’s Syracuse win. Love had 10 offfield pictures by halftime right here in opposition to Pittsburgh, greater than he tried for the Syracuse recreation — when he went 4-on-7 offfield, together with 3-on-5 from 3-point vary, and one objective scored 15 factors.

Nonetheless, the Tar Heels wanted Love’s offense to remain inside 34-33 of Pitt by the tip of their chilly first half (30.6 p.c from the sector). He scored 9 of UNC’s first 17 factors and 12 of the crew’s first 22 factors. By the point his third 3-pointer linked, Love and Nance had mixed for 19 of their crew’s first 22 factors.

Subsequent on the agenda
North Carolina is capturing for its third straight win over rival Duke on Saturday night time. The Tar Heels received 94-81 of their current go to to Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC, defeating Duke in retiring coach Mike Krzyzewski’s farewell recreation at dwelling. 4 weeks later in New Orleans, UNC delivered one other epic win over the Blue Devils, successful 81-77 within the Last 4 to retire Krzyzewski with a loss.

Duke, now beneath coach Jon Scheyer, is 11-0 at dwelling this season, together with 5-0 in ACC video games. The Blue Devils (16-6, 7-4) have received three of their final 4 video games since dropping to league leaders Clemson and 4 of their final six since being blasted by NC State at Raleigh to shut the month of January open.

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