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University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, March 15
Washington, D.C.
7 PM
North Carolina
27-6,17-3ACC
72
vs
65
Pittsburgh (Semifinal)
22-11,12-8ACC
1
2
F
Pittsburgh
35
30
65
North Carolina
33
39
72
Jalen Washington
Photo by: Maggie Hobson
Defense Leads Tar Heels Past Pitt Into ACC Title Game, 72-65
March 15, 2024 | Men's Basketball
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Top-seeded North Carolina got 25 points from RJ Davis and 19 points and 11 rebounds from Armando Bacot in a 72-65 win over Pittsburgh in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Friday at Capital One Arena.
The Tar Heels dominated the final four minutes to clinch the win.
After Pitt's Jaland Lowe tied the score at 62-all with 4:23 remaining, Carolina ripped off a 7-0 run to hold the Panthers at bay and advance to the conference title game for the first time since 2018.
The Tar Heel defense, led by Harrison Ingram, limited Pitt's Blake Hinson, who entered the game averaging 18.9 points per game, to five points on 2 of 12 shooting, including 0 for 5 from three-point range.
Carolina held the Panthers to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half and 38.5 percent overall while winning the rebounding battle, 44-34.
"Our defense [was key]," Davis said. "Coach Davis said someone is going to have to take the challenge, and I think Harrison did a terrific job tonight guarding Hinson. We know how dangerous he is from three, and holding him to two field goals. I think Harrison has been phenomenal all year, but for him to go out there and make it difficult for Hinson, that was terrific."
Carolina held Pittsburgh to 33.3 percent shooting from the floor in the second half and 38.5 percent in the game. It was the 35th time in 66 halves and 15th time in 33 games this season UNC's opponents shot under 40 percent.
The Tar Heels advance to Saturday night's ACC championship game against NC State, which beat Virginia in overtime on Friday.
"We've all been locked in and we've been a family, and it's just been a fun ride," Bacot said. "To go out with a championship would be huge, and that's been one of our biggest goals this year."
How It Happened
First Half
• The Panthers used an 11-0 run to jump out to a 15-8 lead in the early going.
• All eight Tar Heels who played in the first half scored, led by seven points for Bacot and six each for Davis and Ingram.
• Carlton Carrington led all scorers with 16 first-half points, connecting on 6 of 9 shots.
• Pitt led, 35-33, at the break.
Second Half
• The Tar Heel defense limited the Panthers to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half, the 35th time in 66 halves this season the opponents shot under 40 percent.
Postgame Tidbits & Notes
• Carolina is the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament for a record 27th time and is 52-15 as the top seed.
• Carolina is 17-8 all-time against Pittsburgh, including 2-1 in the ACC Tournament and 3-2 at neutral sites.
• Earlier this season, the Tar Heels won, 70-57, at Pitt on Jan. 2.
• UNC is 36-18 in the ACC Tournament semifinals
• The Tar Heels are 108-51 all-time in ACC Tournament play, including 6-1 in Washington, D.C.
Up Next
Carolina advances to Saturday's ACC final and will play the winner of No. 3 seed Virginia and No. 11 seed BC State at 8:30 p.m.
Follow Tar Heel basketball on X at @UNC_Basketball and @UNCMBBstats and on Instagram at UNC_Basketball.
The Tar Heels dominated the final four minutes to clinch the win.
After Pitt's Jaland Lowe tied the score at 62-all with 4:23 remaining, Carolina ripped off a 7-0 run to hold the Panthers at bay and advance to the conference title game for the first time since 2018.
The Tar Heel defense, led by Harrison Ingram, limited Pitt's Blake Hinson, who entered the game averaging 18.9 points per game, to five points on 2 of 12 shooting, including 0 for 5 from three-point range.
Carolina held the Panthers to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half and 38.5 percent overall while winning the rebounding battle, 44-34.
"Our defense [was key]," Davis said. "Coach Davis said someone is going to have to take the challenge, and I think Harrison did a terrific job tonight guarding Hinson. We know how dangerous he is from three, and holding him to two field goals. I think Harrison has been phenomenal all year, but for him to go out there and make it difficult for Hinson, that was terrific."
Carolina held Pittsburgh to 33.3 percent shooting from the floor in the second half and 38.5 percent in the game. It was the 35th time in 66 halves and 15th time in 33 games this season UNC's opponents shot under 40 percent.
"Harrison has been that guy for us on the defensive end all season," said Tar Heel head coach Hubert Davis. "His size, his athleticism gives us versatility on the defensive end to be able to put him in a number of different situations, along with Armando, the two best rebounders in the ACC."
Carolina won in the ACC Tournament semifinals for the first time in four tries and outrebounded Pitt, 44-34, the 22nd straight game UNC won the battle of the boards. The Tar Heels are 19-3 in those games.
The Tar Heels advance to Saturday night's ACC championship game against NC State, which beat Virginia in overtime on Friday.
"We've all been locked in and we've been a family, and it's just been a fun ride," Bacot said. "To go out with a championship would be huge, and that's been one of our biggest goals this year."
How It Happened
First Half
• The Panthers used an 11-0 run to jump out to a 15-8 lead in the early going.
• All eight Tar Heels who played in the first half scored, led by seven points for Bacot and six each for Davis and Ingram.
• Carlton Carrington led all scorers with 16 first-half points, connecting on 6 of 9 shots.
• Pitt led, 35-33, at the break.
Second Half
• The Tar Heel defense limited the Panthers to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half, the 35th time in 66 halves this season the opponents shot under 40 percent.
Postgame Tidbits & Notes
• Carolina is the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament for a record 27th time and is 52-15 as the top seed.
• Carolina is 17-8 all-time against Pittsburgh, including 2-1 in the ACC Tournament and 3-2 at neutral sites.
• Earlier this season, the Tar Heels won, 70-57, at Pitt on Jan. 2.
• UNC is 36-18 in the ACC Tournament semifinals
• The Tar Heels are 108-51 all-time in ACC Tournament play, including 6-1 in Washington, D.C.
Up Next
Carolina advances to Saturday's ACC final and will play the winner of No. 3 seed Virginia and No. 11 seed BC State at 8:30 p.m.
Follow Tar Heel basketball on X at @UNC_Basketball and @UNCMBBstats and on Instagram at UNC_Basketball.
Team Stats
UP
UNC
FG%
.385
.433
3FG%
.333
.273
FT%
1.000
.737
RB
34
44
TO
5
9
STL
4
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
F
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