UNC wins final home game of the season, 93-83, in rematch against Wake Forest

The North Carolina men’s basketball team (13-17, 6-13 ACC) topped Wake Forest (13-16, 6-13 ACC), 93-83, in its final home game of the season. Productive showings from first-year Cole Anthony and junior Garrison Brooks led the way for an efficient UNC offense in Tuesday’s senior night victory. 

What happened?

After Wake Forest scored the game's first points from an Isaiah Mucius lay-in, North Carolina stormed back with a 12-point run and forced the Demon Deacons into burning an early time out. 

Fighting back from an early 10-point deficit, Wake Forest came back and made the game tight as the midway point of the half approached, tying the game at 17 at the 10 minute mark. 

Back-to-back 3s from  Anthony and senior Brandon Robinson put the Tar Heels back in front quickly with a 23-17 lead. 

UNC’s offense flowed well as a unit in the first half, with the Tar Heels burying five shots from beyond the arch and the Brooks-Anthony tandem clicking as the two finished the half as North Carolina’s leading scorers.  

The half ended on a missed Wake Forest jump shot attempt at the buzzer, and UNC went into the break leading 35-34. 

The Tar Heels maintained momentum to start the second half of action, with 3s from Anthony and Robinson, pushing the duo into double digits. Five minutes into the new frame, North Carolina was shooting 50 percent from beyond the arch and found itself in a 47-43 lead. 

Brooks continued to impress for the Tar Heels, notching his fifth consecutive twenty point game midway through the second half. Consecutive acrobatic finishes from Anthony gave North Carolina an eight point lead and its first hint of true momentum since the break. 

Still, the Demon Deacons would not relent, keeping the game within 10 points and refusing to let the game get out of reach at the half’s midway mark. Graduate guard Christian Keeling scored his first points of the night on consecutive mid-range jumpers, and a Cole Anthony three gave North Carolina a seven point lead with 10 minutes remaining.

UNC maintained its single digit lead going into the final five minutes of the game, with back-to-back three’s from Robinson not being enough to separate the game much further.

Wake Forest continued to keep the game close, but the Tar Heels moved the score back out to double digits as the game wound down for the first time since the game’s opening minutes. North Carolina put its seniors back on the court for the game’s closing seconds, and secured a 93-83 victory. 

Who stood out?

Brooks was once again a dominating force for North Carolina in the post. Scoring 20 points in each of his last five starts, the forward has put together the best stretch of his career over the last few weeks. 

Against Wake Forest, the junior scored early and often, finishing second on UNC in scoring with 25 points. Brooks’ efficiency was key, as he finished shooting 9-for-12 from the field and knocked down seven free throws for the Tar Heels. 

When was it decided?

North Carolina’s refusal to give in against the Demon Deacons resilience midway through the second half was key in locking up the victory. Earlier in the season close games often led to heartbreak for the Tar Heels, but on Tuesday UNC seemed comfortable with a late lead. 

Why does it matter?

Riding a three game winning streak, North Carolina is heading into the final game of the regular season with more confidence than it has had since ACC play began. 

With UNC’s only chance to make the NCAA Tournament being an ACC Tournament win, the Tar Heels will look to maintain momentum as the regular-season comes to a close. 

Despite this victory not giving UNC a lead over Wake Forest in the conference standings, the Tar Heels gave themselves a chance to move up the standings with a win against Duke on Saturday and a little bit of help. 

When do they play next?

The Tar Heels will head to Durham for a Saturday night show-down against Duke to try and avoid a season sweep from their cross-town rivals. 

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com