University of North Carolina Athletics
Merchants Moment of November: Tar Heels Take New York
December 2, 2002 | Men's Basketball
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By David Tinson
Carolina's 5-0 start in men's basketball and victory in the Preseason NIT championship game is November's Merchant's Moment of the Month.
After trailing Rutgers late on Nov. 20 in the quarterfinals of the Preseason NIT, the Tar Heels rallied for a victory and a Thanksgiving trip to New York City for the semifinals of the tournament.
Carolina dismantled the second-ranked Kansas Jayhawks, 67-56, at Madison Square Garden in the semifinals for its first win over a ranked opponent since beating #15 Saint Joseph's on Dec. 22, 2001. The win over Kansas was the Tar Heels' first win over an opponent ranked as high as #2 in the nation since beating second-ranked Duke, 85-83, at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 1, 2001. Rashad McCants poured in 25 points to lead the Tar Heels to the victory.
"We feel like this is a team game," McCants said. "We came in here with a game plan and we executed it. We're young, but we believe in each other."
In Friday's (Nov. 29) championship game, the Tar Heels defeated Stanford, 74-57. The Cardinal led just once in the game at 3-2. Carolina pulled away from a 7-7 tie and built a 20-point lead at 37-17 with 5:24 to play in the first half. Stanford closed to within eight points at the half, but the Tar Heels went on a 9-2 run to start the second half. Stanford was unable to cut the lead back to single digits the rest of the game.
Raymond Felton connected on 4 of 6 three-pointers and had a season-high 16 points to go along with a game-high seven assists. Felton was one of four Tar Hels to score in double figures along with Rashad McCants (18), Jackie Manuel (14) and Sean May (12). Jawad Williams also had nine points.
UNC shot 49.1 percent from the floor for the game, and held the Cardinal to 33.9 percent shooting. Stanford made just 20 of 59 shots and turned the ball over 21 times. Stanford had 18 offensive rebounds, nine more than the Tar Heels, but Carolina actually scored 17 second chance points, two more than the Cardinal.
The Tar Heels turned Stanford's 21 turnovers into 27 points.
Manuel added seven rebounds, three assists and three steals and helped limit Stanford guard Matt Lottich to only 1 of 8 from the floor.
"I don't think I would say I'm surprised. I'm happy," UNC head coach Matt Doherty said after the win. "We are good, but we can play better. We can guard people. Our team speed and quickness is pretty good, and every night you can count on your defense, you hope. Offensively, we may turn the ball over and miss some shots. A team may try to slow you down, throw in a zone, whatever. Defense, you hope to bring it every night, and so far we have."
Carolina has now won the Preseason NIT twice, with the last championship coming in 1998.
Rashad McCants was selected the Most Valuable Player of the 2002 Preseason NIT.
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