Live Blog: Wake Forest at UNC

Demon Deacons looking for first win of ACC season at Carolina

North Carolina looks to move above .500 in the ACC when it hosts Wake Forest in the Dean Smith Center on Wednesday.

The Tar Heels are 3-3 in conference, 8-5 overall after Saturday’s loss at Florida State. That loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Carolina, who is unbeaten (4-0, 2-0) at home.

Wake Forest arrives still looking for its first ACC win. The Demon Deacons are 3-5 overall, 0-5 in conference in the first year under head coach Steve Forbes. The Deacs have struggled with COVID, which has disrupted the schedule. Wake has played six games in 2021 after going from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve without a game to close 2020.

The Tar Heels got a boost the last time out, when sophomore Anthony Harris returned to the floor after suffering a serious leg injury on December 30, 2019 and missing more than a year. Harris played just eight and a half minutes but tied for the team lead with three assists. He also had a plus 10, one of just three Tar Heels with a positive plus-minus against the Seminoles.

Harris admitted he was tired after the brief stint, and the UNC coaches will be careful with his minutes while he works his way back into shape. Still, he provided a stabilizing presence for a Carolina team that has struggled with two freshmen guards in starting roles. Carolina has done better in recent games with passing the ball, assisting on more than 60 percent of its made shots, although turnovers are still an issue. 

Your starters: Bacot and Brooks inside, Leaky Black, Love and Walton at guard

If you like rebounds, this is the game for you. Lots of balls bouncing off rims and backboards early. We hit the under 16 in a 5-5 tie. 

Anthony Harris checks in for his first minutes in the first half since December 2019

A Sharpe to Kessler turnover sends us to the under 12, tied at 9. UNC is shooting 3-of-13, Wake 4-of-11. 

Wake hits UNC with a 7-0 run. Tar Heel offense is out of synch. Day'Ron Sharpe had the ball at the top of the key with nothing to do but dribble twice in the last three possessions 

Sharpe outhustled for a rebound on a missed Wake shot by the shooter.

Garrison Brooks misses a transition three that was ... not the best shot. He hit a long two next time down, which was also not an ideal product of the UNC offense. At the under eight, Wake leads 18-15. 

UNC now shooting 6-of-21, and if you're watching at home or reading this blog, you have as many made threes as the Tar Heels. They've attempted four. 

Good night Jon Boy! Walton ties it with a three. (Ask your grandparents ... they'll know the reference.) 

Wake Forest has been outrebounding Carolina, something Roy Williams will likely bring up at halftime. 

UNC with another turnover. Heels are up to seven but reach the under 4 leading 21-20. 

Brooks offensive foul, followed by a Bacot foul as UNC rebounds a Wake miss. Bacot with an offensive foul. Wake is out-hustling Carolina right now. Deacs also have 9 second-chance points already 

Wake with a three to close out a half that didn't end well for Carolina. Love hits at the buzzer to salvage things a bit, but Heels will hear about it from Roy Williams at halftime. Wake up 33-31.

Under two minutes remain until start of second half and still no Tar Heels. Here they come at 1:43 on the clock. Did I mention Roy might have some things to say to them in the locker room? 

Armando Bacot picks up his third foul fighting through a screen off the ball at mid court. 

Carolina with a sneaky 8-0 run into the under 16. The Heels have hit their last three shots and lead 41-35. 

UNC extends the run to 12-0 before Brooks fouls on a made three pointer. Wake misses the free throw, though. 45-38 Heels, 14:15 left. 

At the under 12, Heels lead 51-44. Heels shooting 60 percent this half and outrebounding Wake by three. Also only one turnover in eight plus minutes. 

Wake outfights UNC for a loose ball, then throws it ahead for a wide open three. Wake with a three next time down. Lead is down to three. 

Wake gets two offensive rebounds on one possession, leading to a game-tying three. Still looking like Deacs want this one more. 

Bacot picks up his fourth foul fighting for a missed layup by Sharpe, who fumbled the ball on the way up. 

Sharpe shoots off the dribble at the free throw line. Again, shot selection helping keep Wake in this. 

RJ Davis foul sends it to the under 8. UNC up 58-53

Sharpe is just a step slow tonight. Tried to drive the lane and dunk and suffered a hellacious block by Okpomo that sent him to the floor. Led to a wide open Wake three, of course. 60-57 UNC with 6:40 left. 

Wow. RJ Davis with a steal and a no look pass as he was falling out of bounds to Black, who finds Bacot for a dunk. Shades of Jason Kidd on that play for Davis 

Under four: UNC is up 71-62 and headed to the line

And that'll do it. Heels dribble it out for an 80-73 win.