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The Daily Tar Heel

UNC basketball defeats Gardner-Webb in messy 77-61 win

20191115_Pirozzi_MBBvGarnerWebb-236.jpg
UNC's sophomore guard Leaky Black (1) prepares to pass the ball during a game against Gardner-Webb on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. UNC beat Gardner-Webb 77-61.

The North Carolina men’s basketball team (3-0) won a sloppy Friday evening game against Gardner-Webb, 77-61. First-year guard Cole Anthony led the way with 28 points for UNC.

What happened?

A summary of the game: messy. 

The game got off to a slow start for both teams. After eight minutes, the score was only 9-9, and the two teams combined to shoot 6-20 with seven turnovers. After that, the gap between the two didn't exceed more than four points in the first half.

North Carolina went into halftime shooting 12-29, with Anthony making the team’s only 3-pointer on 10 attempts. While Anthony led the team in points before the break, first-year forward Armando Bacot had seven rebounds and was 4-6 from the floor. 

As for Gardner-Webb, its stats weren’t much better at halftime. The Bulldogs shot 10-27 and made three out of their 11 attempted 3-pointers.

The Tar Heels came out firing on all cylinders in the beginning of the second half. Graduate transfer guard Christian Keeling scored five out of UNC’s first seven points in the period. Thanks to him and sophomore guard Leaky Black, UNC had its biggest lead of the night so far: 10. 

With less than nine minutes to go, UNC led 53-47 before Anthony sank a 3-pointer. It was his first bucket since the 15:37 mark. The first-year continued to dominate with a step-back 3-pointer from near half-court four minutes later. 

Anthony solidified the eventual Tar Heel victory with a statement dunk with just three minutes left, sending the arena into loud cheers and moving UNC to 3-0.

Who stood out?

Anthony came alive with 10 points in the first half to lead North Carolina, and was the only Tar Heel able to create his own offense at the start of the game. He finished the night leading the team with 28 points and four fouls. Anthony has now scored 20-plus points in three straight games, the first first-year player to do so since Harrison Barnes.

Bacot had the first double-double of his college career and was had the most efficient shooting night for North Carolina on Friday night. He went 6-9 from the field with 12 points and 11 rebounds. 

When was it decided?

The game came down to the wire. Just when UNC seemed to be pulling away once they led by 10 at the beginning of the second half, Gardner-Webb got several buckets to keep it close.

With eight minutes left, UNC started to pull away again, leading 58-47 and giving the team a 16-point win.

Why does it matter?

Heading into the Friday night matchup, the Tar Heels led the series against Gardner-Webb 4-0 with all four games being played at the Dean Smith Center. The last time the two played each other was in 2012, when UNC blew past Gardner-Webb 76-59. Only two Tar Heels scored in double digits that game — Dexter Strickland (13) and James Michael McAdoo (26).

The Tar Heels were able to remain undefeated against the Bulldogs in this early season matchup, though it took perhaps longer than expected for the result to be decided.

When do they play next?

The Tar Heels will next take on Elon at home on Nov. 20. 

@bg_keyes | @mwc13_3

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@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com