CHAPEL HILL — Soaring N.C. State came crashing back to earth courtesy of its biggest
rival.North Carolina shot
71 percent from the floor against the best defense in the Atlantic Coast Conference en
route to an 83-75 win at the Smith Center Saturday night. With the Wolfpack just days
removed from a stunning 68-66 win over No. 15 Maryland, State couldn’t pull off the
second upset.
“After they beat Maryland I
knew they would come in here because they wanted that respect,” said Tar Heel center
Brendan Haywood, who scored 16 points on 7-of-7 shooting. “They wanted to get ranked
off us. Two wins against top 15 teams, that would definitely have done it for them. They
had a lot to win in this game, but at the same time we had a lot to lose and we just went
out there, executed and played well tonight.”
Carolina (11-4 overall, 2-1 ACC)
deserved far more credit than a mere “played well.” The 14th-ranked Tar Heels
ran off 10 straight points to close the first half with a 36-34 lead, then sealed it with
a 13-2 run early in the second half to push the lead to 15 points. The runs came off easy
baskets and lights-out shooting against tough N.C. State, second in the ACC in field-goal
percentage defense (38 percent) and first in scoring defense (57.1 points per game.)
“Going in we were aware of
North Carolina’s offensive proficiency,” said N.C. State head coach Herb Sendek,
whose team dropped to 10-2 overall and 1-1 in the league. “Tonight they were near
perfect. We had no answer for their offense.”
Ed Cota fueled the attack, and not
in his usual manner. The conference’s top assist man scored a career-high 23 points
on 8-for-8 shooting from the field. He finished with only four assists.
“I tried to be more assertive
on the offensive end,” the senior point guard said. “It just depends on the type
of game we’re going to play. If the guys want to give me open shots I’m going to
take them, if I have a lane where I can drive, I’ll take that.”
He even managed to take
Sendek’s breath away.
“Ed Cota was remarkable. He
was a great player on the floor tonight,” Sendek said. “He was not only seeking
shots, but his presence for 38 minutes put them on another level.”
Cota’s brilliance helped get
Carolina back in the game after State took a five-point lead late in the first half. The
aggressive Wolfpack crashed the boards and got easy baskets from Kenny Inge, Damon
Thornton and Anthony Grundy. When Marhsall Williams connected on a layup for a 34-26 edge,
the Heels looked to be in trouble.
But after three foul shots pulled
Carolina within 34-29, freshman Joseph Forte drilled a 3-pointer on the break and Haywood
scored in the paint with a dunk. As the half came to a close, Haywood picked up a loose
ball in the lane and dribbled in for a layup and Carolina’s two-point edge.
“The 10-0 run to close the
half, knowing they were up eight, they would have had all the momentum,” Haywood
said. “Now you look at it and we’re up two, then our big run puts us up by 12
points.”
The second half mirrored the final
two minutes of the first. Carolina couldn’t miss and State couldn’t connect.
Haywood scored in the post, Forte slammed home two on the break, Capel hit a 3-pointer and
Cota drove and pulled up for a baseline jumper.
Suddenly the lead was 15, and the
Wolfpack got no closer than nine until the final minute. Carolina finished the second half
shooting an amazing 15-for-19 from the floor. It was Carolina’s best percentage in a
half and for an entire game since 1992 against Old Dominion.
“I thought it was a great
college basketball game,” Tar Heels head coach Bill Guthridge said. “For us to
win it really helps my spirits as far as our chances to have a good season. We still have
a long way to go but I’m really encouraged encouraged by this win.”
n
NOTES: A loud and enthusiastic
sellout crowd of 21,572 was on hand ... N.C. State shot 47 percent from the floor. ... The
Wolfpack’s aggressiveness showed at the free throw line. Carolina was 26-for-32,
while the Wolfpack shot 6-for-9. ... Thornton, Inge and Grundy each scored 15. |
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