University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC's Guards Lead Tar Heels Past Terrapins
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
March 6, 1999
By Aaron Beard Special to tarheelblue.com
CHARLOTTE - It seems like North Carolinas off guards have hardly spent any time on the court in recent weeks.
In January and February, freshman Jason Capel had to miss six games with mononucleosis. Not long after he returned to the Tar Heels, sophomore Max Owens went down to a strained groin muscle and missed two games.
ut Saturday afternoon, the Tar Heels could thank Capel and Owens for lifting them past fifth-ranked and No. 2 seed Maryland 86-79 in the ACC Tournament semifinals. The two combined for 36 points on 10-for-15 shooting, which included a 5-for-6 mark from behind the 3-point line.
efore the game, it appeared that UNC might be without Capels services. Capel missed Fridays game against Georgia Tech and was listed as questionable for the Maryland game. But Capel played and wasted no time in making his presence felt. On his first play, he hit a 3-pointer from the right wing. It was the first of three in the first half. Capel finished with 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting.
"I knew I wasnt 100 percent," Capel said. "But I could still play and compete. I knew I could shoot the ball, but I knew I was limited in what I could do."
Owens added a career-high 23 points on 5-for-9 shooting. He added an 11-for-12 performance from the free-throw line on the day.
"Max hit the 3, he hit the pull-up, he stepped inside the 3 - this was the Max Owens Ive been talking about," center Brendan Haywood said. "In the preseason people asked me who would score. I said Max Owens. Hes the best 1-on-1 player Ive seen.
"When he gets his feet under him, hes tough to guard."
Owens biggest moment came when he knocked down a 3-pointer from the right wing as the shot clock expired to give the Tar Heels a 60-41 lead.
"I wanted to take it to the hole, but I couldnt," Owens said. "I was confident that, if I could get a little room, I could knock it down. And thats what I did."
Behind the production of Capel and Owens, the Tar Heels topped the Terps for the first time all season. As a result, they meet ACC terror and top-ranked Duke on Sunday for the ACC Tournament championship.
And - in a recurrent theme - they might have to do it without one of their off guards. Capel re-injured his back during the second half and sat out the final 12 minutes of the game. He is listed as questionable for Sundays game.
ut for now UNC can enjoy this win - courtesy of Nos. 24 and 25.
"Our shooting guards can bring it home," UNC point guard Ed Cota said. "We got big play out of our guards tonight."
