Aftermath Against Miami: RJ Davis Sets a New Dean Smith Center Record
Chapel Hill, N.C. --- The Dean Smith Center record for the most points scored was previously set by Tyler Hansbrough back in 2006 during his freshman season at UNC. North Carolina's all-time leader in points scored 40 against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on February 15th, 2006, as the Tar Heels routed to an 82-75 win under former Coach Roy Williams. Williams was only into his second year of being the head coach at the time of Hansbrough setting the new single-game scoring record. However, after yesterday night, that record held once by Psycho T now belongs to RJ Davis.
RJ Davis' Record Setting Performance Arguably his worst game against UVa was UNC's last time out, where RJ Davis shot the basketball 1-14 as his only made bucket came from downtown. Although Davis' finished the game with 12 points, the other nine came at the expense of drawing fouls, sending him to the free throw line.
Two days later, history was made.
There must have been something in what Davis' ate or drunk before tip-off because, right from the get-go, he surged for 21 first-half points as the Tar Heels had a lead of 37-21 going into halftime. Out of the locker room, he doubled his total, completing the game's scorebook with 42 points, six rebounds, and one assist. Number 4 shot 14-22 from the field, including seven swishes from beyond the arc.
Deep-range three-balls, blowing by the defenders, floaters in the lane, transition points, any way you know how to score the basketball Davis' executed, except for a dunk, which we all hope to see one day.
Davis' outscored the rest of his Tar Heel teammates 42-33, making him the first player to do so since sophomore Michael Jordan on January 29th, 1983, against Georgia Tech. Jordan scored 39 of the team's 72 points.
The performance serves as a historical piece in UNC's record books, giving the faithful Tar Heel fans a show to never forget.
Costly Mistakes in the End
Despite the entertaining scoring outburst, North Carolina had major lapses of mistakes towards the end, as they held a 10-point lead of 72-62 at the 3:20 mark. The Hurricanes suddenly started to creep in and find their way back into it, beginning with a Bensely Joseph three-point make followed by a travel violation on Harrison Ingram off the inbound. The defensive pressure by Miami started to rise, blitzing the basketball at the top of half court off the ball screens.
Matthew Cleveland sank a pair of free throws, a result of an RJ Davis shooting foul around the rim. Now with 1:40 left in the regulation, North Carolina sat with a 72-67 lead but changed very quickly once more with a bad pass while inbounding the ball, landing in the hands of freshman Kyshawn George, who turned around and lined up a three-point shot. Just like that, the Hurricanes found themselves within two points from what was a double-digit deficit only 2 minutes prior.
Davis eventually ended up at the foul line off a blocking call, unusually converting 1 of 2. Off the miss, Ingram tapped the ball back out, keeping it alive, and ultimately ended up with Armando Bacot, throwing a pass that was whistled for a kick ball violation.
Moments after, Bacot was grabbed for an intentional foul by Matthew Cleveland, sending him to the charity stripe, but unfortunately missed both to keep the Hurricanes alive and the game within a possession reach.
On the way back down the court, Bacot ended up with his fifth and final foul, landing him a spot on the bench during the final seconds of game action. Bensley Joseph made the first, then missed the second in the act of trying to regain the ball for another field goal attempt.
Seth Trimble found himself shooting at the free throw line but also failed to make either shot, except Jae'Lyn Withers, who subbed into the game, came up with a huge game-saving rebound and knocked down two free throws to extend North Carolina's lead as Coach Davis and his team end up with another gritty, hard-fought win.
Miami Hurricanes Coach Larraňaga had to duel North Carolina without Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar, who both average double-figures on the season.
Even though Miami missed some of their firepower, they managed to hang in there as Norchad Omier and Bensely Joseph topped the box scores. Omier finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds, one steal, and a block, as he shot seven of 19 from the field, making four of his shots from behind the arc.
Joseph completed his outing with 21 points in addition to six rebounds, five assists, and a steal. The sophomore out of Arlington, Massachusetts, made seven of his 12 attempts, five of which were from the three-point line.
Kyshawn George and Matthew Cleveland added 14 and 10 points to the stat sheet, respectively.
Off the bench, there was not much help for Miami, as the freshman Michael Nwoko out of Toronto, Ontario, scored the only bucket.
In the second half, the Miami Hurricanes shot 12-29 FG, 6-17 3PT, and 9-13 FT.
In addition, Miami logged 21 points off turnovers, three second-chance points, seven on the fast break, and mustered 18 in the paint.
A Look Ahead to Saturday The second-to-last home game for Coach Davis and the Tar Heels unfolds another Triangle matchup with NC State (17-11, 9-8 conference).
In their first matchup back on January 10th, then-ranked #7 North Carolina won by double figures, 67-54. RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau lead the team with points at 16 and 11, respectively, being the only two players reaching the double-digit mark.
In the last game between North Carolina and NC State at the Dean Smith Center, Armando Bacot set a new record and became the university's leader in rebounds, passing Tyler Hansbrough.
Arguably his worst game against UVa was UNC's last time out, where RJ Davis shot the basketball 1-14 as his only made bucket came from downtown. Although Davis' finished the game with 12 points, the other nine came at the expense of drawing fouls, sending him to the free throw line.
Two days later, history was made.
There must have been something in what Davis' ate or drunk before tip-off because, right from the get-go, he surged for 21 first-half points as the Tar Heels had a lead of 37-21 going into halftime. Out of the locker room, he doubled his total, completing the game's scorebook with 42 points, six rebounds, and one assist. Number 4 shot 14-22 from the field, including seven swishes from beyond the arc.
Deep-range three-balls, blowing by the defenders, floaters in the lane, transition points, any way you know how to score the basketball Davis' executed, except for a dunk, which we all hope to see one day.
Davis' outscored the rest of his Tar Heel teammates 42-33, making him the first player to do so since sophomore Michael Jordan on January 29th, 1983, against Georgia Tech. Jordan scored 39 of the team's 72 points.
The performance serves as a historical piece in UNC's record books, giving the faithful Tar Heel fans a show to never forget.
The defensive pressure by Miami started to rise, blitzing the basketball at the top of half court off the ball screens.
Matthew Cleveland sank a pair of free throws, a result of an RJ Davis shooting foul around the rim. Now with 1:40 left in the regulation, North Carolina sat with a 72-67 lead but changed very quickly once more with a bad pass while inbounding the ball, landing in the hands of freshman Kyshawn George, who turned around and lined up a three-point shot. Just like that, the Hurricanes found themselves within two points from what was a double-digit deficit only 2 minutes prior.
Davis eventually ended up at the foul line off a blocking call, unusually converting 1 of 2. Off the miss, Ingram tapped the ball back out, keeping it alive, and ultimately ended up with Armando Bacot, throwing a pass that was whistled for a kick ball violation.
Moments after, Bacot was grabbed for an intentional foul by Matthew Cleveland, sending him to the charity stripe, but unfortunately missed both to keep the Hurricanes alive and the game within a possession reach.
On the way back down the court, Bacot ended up with his fifth and final foul, landing him a spot on the bench during the final seconds of game action. Bensley Joseph made the first, then missed the second in the act of trying to regain the ball for another field goal attempt.
Seth Trimble found himself shooting at the free throw line but also failed to make either shot, except Jae'Lyn Withers, who subbed into the game, came up with a huge game-saving rebound and knocked down two free throws to extend North Carolina's lead as Coach Davis and his team end up with another gritty, hard-fought win.
Coach Larraňaga had to duel North Carolina without Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar, who both average double-figures on the season.
Even though Miami missed some of their firepower, they managed to hang in there as Norchad Omier and Bensely Joseph topped the box scores. Omier finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds, one steal, and a block, as he shot seven of 19 from the field, making four of his shots from behind the arc.
Joseph completed his outing with 21 points in addition to six rebounds, five assists, and a steal. The sophomore out of Arlington, Massachusetts, made seven of his 12 attempts, five of which were from the three-point line.
Kyshawn George and Matthew Cleveland added 14 and 10 points to the stat sheet, respectively.
Off the bench, there was not much help for Miami, as the freshman Michael Nwoko out of Toronto, Ontario, scored the only bucket.
In the second half, the Miami Hurricanes shot 12-29 FG, 6-17 3PT, and 9-13 FT.
In addition, Miami logged 21 points off turnovers, three second-chance points, seven on the fast break, and mustered 18 in the paint.
The second-to-last home game for Coach Davis and the Tar Heels unfolds another Triangle matchup with NC State (17-11, 9-8 conference).
In their first matchup back on January 10th, then-ranked #7 North Carolina won by double figures, 67-54. RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau lead the team with points at 16 and 11, respectively, being the only two players reaching the double-digit mark.
In the last game between North Carolina and NC State at the Dean Smith Center, Armando Bacot set a new record and became the university's leader in rebounds, passing Tyler Hansbrough.
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