UNC men's basketball routs Long Beach State, 93-67

The No. 5 North Carolina men's basketball team continued its early-season success on Tuesday night, routing the Long Beach State 49ers, 93-67.

What happened?

The Tar Heels used a string of runs to dismantle Long Beach State in this one, starting their first run on the opening tip. UNC ran off to a 14-point lead before Long Beach State even made a basket — a total of seven minutes and 39 seconds passed before the 49ers got on the board.

Joel Berry picked up two quick fouls in the first five minutes of the game, but he still managed to carry a bulk of the UNC scoring. The junior matched the offensive output of the entire 49ers team for a majority of the half, ending the opening period with 14 points. While the scoring distribution evened out for the remainder of the half, the Tar Heels had already built up a 23-point lead heading into intermission.

The scoring barrage continued early in the second half, highlighted by a monster dunk from Isaiah Hicks off a fantastic feed by Berry.

Buckets were hard to come by for the Tar Heels following that mini-run, as North Carolina seemingly played the first 10 minutes on autopilot.

During a timeout at the 13:35 mark, Coach Roy Williams showed his frustration by abusing a clipboard. Williams had a clear reason to be upset: At the 11:24 mark, the Tar Heels had actually been outscored 17-12 by Long Beach State in the second half.

The intensity picked back up for UNC following that timeout, and the Tar Heels went on an 11-2 run the next three minutes of the game to build the lead back up to 27. The teams traded buckets for the remainder of the second half, with the Tar Heels ultimately pulling away in the last 10 minutes to set the score at its final resting place.

Who stood out?

Berry led the Tar Heels in this one, tying his career high with 23 points on a sensational 7-of-10 shooting from the floor. He also added six rebounds and four assists in only 21 minutes. The reigning ACC Player of the Week flashed composure and control on the floor throughout the evening. Even after getting in foul trouble early, Berry was able to bounce back, finishing the night with only three fouls.

Justin Jackson also provided a stellar performance for UNC. The junior scored 14 points while also grabbing 10 rebounds in a double-double effort for the Tar Heels. His efficient scoring — on a night in which he shot 0-for-4 from beyond the arc — is a good sign for North Carolina, showing how many different ways Jackson can beat opposing teams.

When was it decided?

This game was decided early on, with the Tar Heels piling up 14 points before Long Beach State could even find the basket. The 49ers had their hands full all night and were clearly overmatched. The Tar Heels held their opposition to 25.8 percent shooting in the first half, while quick transition offense and aggressive defense led UNC.

Why does it matter?

The win gives the Tar Heels a nice momentum boost heading into their Hawaii trip, which features a game against Hawaii on Friday and concludes with the Maui Invitational.

North Carolina saw continued production from its first-tear trio of Tony Bradey, Brandon Robinson and Seventh Woods, which can be relied on more heavily in the coming games with Luke Maye joining Theo Pinson on the sidelines with injuries.

Where do they play next?

North Carolina will pick back up on Friday, traveling to Honolulu, Hawaii, to face the Rainbow Warriors at 1 a.m.

@WBOD3

sports@dailytarheel.com