North Carolina Sends Gonzaga To Their Second Straight Loss

North Carolina was firing on all cylinders on Saturday night in Chapel Hill.

With that being said they sent the previously top ranked team in the country to their second straight loss.

North Carolina made shot after shot, finally backing its Hall of Fame coach's claim that he has a sharp-shooting bunch. And when they did miss, the Tar Heels relentlessly flew to the rim to pursue the ball for another chance. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

Saving all that for a highly ranked opponent in a marquee nonconference game will only help with confidence, too. Cameron Johnson had 25 points and six 3-pointers to lift No. 12 UNC over No. 4 Gonzaga 103-90 on Saturday night, a strong performance for a team that had flopped in a previous measuring-stick nonconference game. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

It was a few days after Thanksgiving when the Tar Heels lost at No. 5 Michigan, looking overwhelmed at both ends and leaving Roy Williams to say — among many things — that "right now we stink." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

This time, facing a team that ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 a week ago, the Tar Heels (8-2) shot 57 percent in the first half to build a 14-point lead at the break. And they never let the Zags closer than eight after halftime. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

"I think we needed it, just to show ourselves how good we can be," senior guard Kenny Williams said. "We see everybody talking about 'Carolina's defense is horrible' and all that, so we just need to show ourselves how good we can be and the potential we could play with going deep into the season." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

UNC finished the game shooting 55 percent, including 13 of 25 from 3-point range, in a matchup featuring two of the nation's best offensive teams. Yet it was the Tar Heels' work on the boards that proved just as important. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

North Carolina finished with a 42-21 rebounding advantage. That included 14 offensive boards that led to a 27-0 edge in second-chance points, which proved critical on a night when neither team missed too often. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

Zach Norvell Jr. scored 21 points to lead the Bulldogs (9-2), who shot 56 percent after halftime and 51 percent overall. But Gonzaga never recovered after falling behind by double figures in the first half and kept coming up a shot or two short of really upping the pressure on the Tar Heels to hold that margin after halftime. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

"They're right up there with anybody we've played," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "Especially on the glass, we haven't been beaten on the glass like that all year. And I know we certainly haven't given up 50 percent in both halves for defensive field goal percentage. So, they're right there." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx


BIG PICTURE
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs sat at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 about a week ago, but they've lost two straight — though both games were serious nonconference tests. They lost a close one last weekend against No. 3 Tennessee, then fell behind early Saturday night and never could catch up against a UNC offense that looked very comfortable on its home floor. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

"I think we did our job making them take tough shots, but we just didn't come up with the rebounds," said Josh Perkins, who had 20 points and eight assists. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

"They wanted it on the boards, and defensively they went at us. They earned that win." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

UNC: The Tar Heels offered a reminder that they have the firepower to score with just about anybody. One significant concern, though, was they committed a season-high 23 turnovers that led to 29 points for Gonzaga — the kind of mistakes that could've proved very costly had North Carolina not been shooting so well and dominating the glass. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx


SEVENTH'S BIG NIGHT
While Johnson and Luke Maye (20 points, 16 rebounds) led UNC, the Tar Heels got a big performance from junior point guard Seventh Woods. Woods finished with a career-high 14 points, including two 3-pointers and three straight baskets right before halftime for a 53-39 lead. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

"If I see an opening, I'm going to try to take it and make a play," Woods said. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

It was the first double-figure scoring game of Woods' career.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx


LOTS OF OFFENSE
The 103 points were UNC's No. 2 total against a top-5 opponent and only the third time the Tar Heels had cracked 100 points in those games. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

North Carolina will return to the hardwood on Saturday in Chicago Illinois where they will take on Kentucky.

Tip-off is set for 5:15pm from the United Center. The game will be televised on CBS.