All Tar Heels

Armando Bacot Bounces Back, Passes UNC Basketball Legend on All-Time List

The UNC basketball 2,000-point club might be only a game or two away from adding its seventh member.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
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Armando Bacot wasn't the star of the UNC basketball show in the 11th-ranked Tar Heels' 81-69 win over previously unbeaten No. 7 Oklahoma at the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte on Wednesday night. No, that honor again belongs to early ACC Player of the Year frontrunner and clear All-American candidate, RJ Davis.

In what was the squad's fifth battle against a ranked opponent in the past six games (an admirable 4-2 across that daunting stretch), Davis tallied 23 points, leading UNC (8-3, 1-0 ACC) in scoring for the seventh straight time.

But it was Bacot's bounce-back effort from his subpar outing in Saturday's loss to Kentucky that felt indicative of the team's resiliency as a whole. The 23-year-old graduate big man finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and three blocks. 

Not exactly jaw-dropping numbers. Still, from start to finish, it was a strong all-around performance for him and his teammates.

They never trailed. And the fifth-year Tar Heel even confidently knocked down a three, his second of the season in only four attempts, to help stretch the lead to 57-43 at the under-12 media timeout in the second half.

However, it was at the charity stripe following the under-4 timeout where Armando Bacot got his last two points of the night — another timely cushion to the Tar Heels' lead at 70-61 — to tie and then pass former UNC basketball star forward Antawn Jamison at No. 8 on the program's all-time scoring list.

Bacot's 1,975 career points put him within seven of tying No. 7 Larry Miller. Plus, he now needs only 25 more to become only the seventh member of the Tar Heels' 2,000-point club.

Both of those distinctions could come as soon as the team's non-conference finale against Charleston Southern in the Dean E. Smith Center on Dec. 29.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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