We knew heading into immediately that UNC can be with out their greatest participant in Caleb Wilson as he’s sidelined with a damaged bone in his left hand. It was introduced earlier than the sport that the Tar Heels would even be with out the opposite half of the entrance court docket duo in Henri Veesaar, who was sick. Pittsburgh is just not precisely having a great season, however they did hold round for a half or so in opposition to Duke, and missing practically 40 factors per recreation on common is tough to exchange. It turned out simply superb for Carolina as different guys stepped up and the Tar Heels by no means trailed of their 79-65 win.
Carolina constructed their 46-32 halftime lead largely on the backs of Jarin Stevenson, Seth Trimble, and Luka Bogavac. The three mixed for 37 of their first half factors because the Heels shot 53% from the sphere. Without Wilson and Veesaar, Cameron Corhen racked up 17 factors for Pitt. The Panthers turned the ball over 12 instances to UNC’s 4. Even although the Heels have been out-rebounded, they made sufficient photographs to win.
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Stevenson and Trimble completed with a team-high 19 factors every. Trimble received to the road 11 instances and made 9 of his free throws. Stevenson made three of his 4 makes an attempt from lengthy distance. Bogavac and Zayden High, beginning for the missing Veesaar, had 15 factors every. Eleven of High’s factors got here within the second half during which he was Carolina’s main scorer. Derek Dixon was tied with High for the crew excessive in rebounds with seven. He additionally had seven assists and only one turnover.
It was good to see different players step up in Carolina’s time of want. UNC did go chilly in elements of the second half, together with closing the sport with no area objective during the last 4+ minutes whereas Pitt made all however certainly one of their closing seven photographs. That made the ultimate rating look nearer than it did for the overwhelming majority of the sport the place Carolina led by as many as 22.
The subsequent recreation will certainly be more durable with the Heels missing vital personnel. While nobody expects Wilson again so quickly, it will be a giant assist if Veesaar could possibly be wholesome for Tuesday night time when UNC travels to Raleigh to tackle NC State.