Guards Lead MBB Past Hawai'i, 87-69

Saturday, November 23

Manoa, Hawaii

12:30 a.m./7:30 p.m. Hawaiian Time Friday 11/22

North Carolina

3-1,0-0ACC

Hawai'i

4-1,0-0Big West

North Carolina

Hawaii

RJ Davis

Photo by: Maggie Hobson

November 23, 2024 | Men's Basketball

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By: Matt Bowers

HONOLULU, HAWAII — Tenth-ranked North Carolina got stellar performances from all three of its starting guards in a solid, 87-69, road win at Hawai'i on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Fifth-year RJ Davis scored 18 points while moving past Sam Perkins into fourth place in school history in career scoring. Elliot Cadeau hit 7 of 8 shots from the floor to finish with 17 points despite first-half foul trouble. Seth Trimble connected on 6 of 7 free throw tries and scored 13 points.

Davis, Cadeau and Trimble each tallied four assists, and all three have scored in double figures in each of Carolina's first four games this season. The trio helped UNC race to advantages of 19-1 in fast break points and 44-26 in points in the paint.

UNC held Hawai'i without a field goal for more than six minutes in the second half as it pulled away. The Tar Heels shot 57.7 percent after the break and 51.9 percent in the game. The Rainbow Warriors shot 38.6 percent from the floor overall.

Carolina improved to 3-1 this season, completing a successful stopover on its way to Maui. Hawaii fell to 4-1.

Up next, the Tar Heels will play in the Maui Invitational during Thanksgiving week, opening the holiday event with a game against Dayton on Monday November 25 at 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

How It Happened
First Half
• The Tar Heels started the game on a 13-2 run in the opening six-plus minutes.
• Hawai'i held a 23-14 rebounding edge in the first half, including a 12-1 advantage on the offensive glass, leading to a 12-1 advantage in second-chance points. The 12 second-chance points were a season high by Tar Heel opponents in 2024-25.
• All 10 UNC players to see the court in the first half scored.
• Carolina entered the game averaging nine made three-pointers per game but went just 3 for 7 from long range in the first half.

Second Half
• UNC shot 57.7 percent in the second half as it wore down the Rainbow Warriors and eventually built a 19-1 advantage in fast break points.