The Tar Heels started slow, scoring just two points in the first four minutes of play. However, UNC was able to keep it close in large part due to its stifling defense, which forced 14 first-half turnovers.

The turning point of the first half came off of a James Manor 3-pointer, sparking an 8-0 run to give the Tar Heels a 12-point lead with 2:30 left in the half. UNC would go into the break leading 32-24.

In the second half, the Tar Heels took control of the game, leading by as many as 12 points until the final minutes of the game. At the five-minute mark, Guilford decided to bring full-court pressure against the Tar Heels, which proved to be very
effective and forced eight turnovers.

In the end, the Tar Heels hung on to win thanks to clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch by Conner Flynn.

While Tar Heels’ head coach Jerod Haase was pleased to get the win, he was quick to note that the team was far from perfect.

“We made a lot of mental mistakes,” Haase said. “We can definitely improve on both sides of the ball.”

Haase attributed the team’s struggles to lack of practices and introduction of a more complicated offensive style.

One of the beneficiaries of the new-look offense was Christian Pulliam, who led all scorers with 19 points. Like Haase, Pulliam was happy to get the win but wished that his team could have closed out the game better.

“We’ve got to be able to take a 10-point lead and expand it to a 15-point lead, not let them get back into it.”