University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Defeats Yakima 96-87
November 6, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 6, 2000
Forte, Haywood, Owens and Capel Comment on Win
CHAPEL HILL --- Sophomore guard Joseph Forte and junior forward Kris Lang scored 22 points apiece to lead the University of North Carolina to a 96-87 win over the Yakima Sun Kings, the defending CBA champions, in an exhibition game Monday evening at the Smith Center.
The Tar Heels led by 16 points, 45-29, at halftime and held a 96-80 lead with 1:13 to play before the Sun Kings closed out the scoring with a 7-0 run.
"It's probably a great game for us to play because I think back a few years ago you would play somebody you would beat by 40 points and you don't learn anything," says UNC head coach Matt Doherty. "I think we learned a lot tonight. I think we showed some really good signs. We did some nice things especially in the first half.
"I thought the defense in the first half was great. I loved it. Guys were diving on loose balls and we really got the help side," Doherty added.
"Brendan (Haywood) only had eight points but he was very unselfish in kicking the ball back outside."
Lang was 10 for 15 from the floor and added seven rebounds. Forte was 8 for 11 from the floor and added nine assists and three steals.
Haywood scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, blocked three shots and had three steals.
"We still have some things we need to iron out, some wrinkles we don't have ready yet," says Haywood. "We have a new coach and that is to be expected.
"It's good to play against guys that are professionals. They compete well and you don't get any better competing against teams that aren't up to your skill level."
Yakima cut Carolina's 16-point halftime lead to eight points at 60-52 with 12:53 remaining, but senior guard Max Owens drilled back-to-back three-pointers to up the lead back to 14 points with 11:53 to play. Owens knocked in 4 of 7 three-point attempts en route to 16 points in just 17 minutes of action. Owens had eight points in each half.
"It feels great to come in and be productive offensively and defensively," said Owens. "I am glad we won. This early on I think it is very important to play a team like this. They are very athletic. I think we just wore them down."
Freshman point guard Adam Boone started and had 10 points, six turnovers, three assists and three steals.
Carolina shot 58.3 percent from the floor and had 26 assists on 35 field goals. Forte led the Tar Heels with nine assists and Jason Capel added eight. UNC committed 25 turnovers and forced 20 by the Sun Kings.
Yakima, now 1-2 on its collegiate exhibition tour, was led by David Vanterpool who had 25 points. Rosell Ellis (16), Carlos Daniel (12) and Shawn Harvey (10) also were in double figures. The Sun Kings shot 40.0 percent from the floor.
Carolina opens regular-season play on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Smith Center in the opening round of the NABC Classic. The Tar Heels play host to Winthrop. Tulsa and Arizona State meet in the second game on Friday.
The consolation game is Saturday at 6 p.m. and the championship tips off at 8:30 p.m.
NABC tickets are available at the box office.
