All Tar Heels

HALFTIME REPORT: UNC Basketball Utterly Dominating Vaunted Tennessee D

UNC basketball wasn't messing around in its first half against Tennessee.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball versus Tennessee (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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Less than 10 minutes into the first half of UNC basketball's highly anticipated bout against visiting 10th-ranked Tennessee (4-2, 0-0 SEC) in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Wednesday night, the No. 17 Tar Heels (5-1, 0-0 ACC) had enjoyed 3-point makes from four different players.

They stretched the Volunteers' heralded halfcourt defense, consistently making the extra pass to find open looks in the Dean E. Smith Center.

And UNC thrived by turning its amplified perimeter defense into steals and momentum-sealing punches on offense.

Altogether, the Tar Heels' efforts, including their impressive attack on the basket to get to the foul line regularly, worked to the tune of a 41-21 advantage at the under-eight media timeout and a 61-39 halftime lead.

At the break, UNC was shooting 19-for-33 from the field, 7-for-16 beyond the arc, and 16-for-16 at the line.

Armando Bacot, needing an offensive explosion after delivering a single-digit scoring outing in each of the past two games, had 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists entering the locker room.

Three more Tar Heels were in double figures: Cormac Ryan, back from an ankle injury that kept him out of UNC's Black Friday win over Arkansas, had 12 points, RJ Davis chipped in 10, and Harrison Ingram matched Bacot with 15.

Meanwhile, Tennessee had committed nine turnovers (only five for the Tar Heels) and been outrebounded, 16-11, leading to the Volunteers (16-for-30 from the field and 6-for-6 at the charity stripe) seeing significantly fewer scoring opportunities than UNC.

Following the meeting with Tennessee, the third UNC basketball squad under Hubert Davis' command will gear up for its ACC opener at home against unranked Florida State on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET (ACCN).

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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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