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BASKETBALL

North Carolina To Host Notre Dame For Season Opener

North Carolina will open up their season differently then last season. Instead of a non-conference game they will open the season with an Atlantic Coast Conference game as they host Notre Dame on Wednesday night who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in every sport except on the grid iron where they’re independent

In the season opener North Carolina will look to get another win against North Carolina while Notre Dame will look to avenge last season’s 75 -69 loss.

As for last seasons only meeting between the two teams it came in Chapel Hill where North Carolina topped Notre Dame.

Once Nassir Little got rolling, No. 13 North Carolina didn't have to worry much about yet another home loss. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/1/15/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx

Little scored all 11 of his points in the final 11 minutes, and the Tar Heels beat Notre Dame 75-69 on Tuesday night. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/1/15/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx

"It was just a matter of time," Little said. "Everybody was just waiting for me to do what I do, to help the team be as good as we can be." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/1/15/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx

Coby White had 17 points while Luke Maye added 14 points and 10 rebounds and Cameron Johnson finished with 11 points for the Tar Heels (13-4, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). UNC used a late 12-1 run to bounce back from its most lopsided home loss under Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/1/15/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx

White started the key run with a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down with 6½ minutes to play, and Little, a freshman, ended it with a twisting layup on the break that gave the Tar Heels their first double-figure lead, 69-59, with less than 90 seconds left. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/1/15/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx

Meanwhile, Notre Dame suffered a loss last season,

Notre Dame (11-6, 1-3 ACC) went toe-to-toe with No. 13/15 North Carolina (13-4, 3-1 ACC) on the road Tuesday evening but the Tar Heels made enough plays down the stretch to come away with a 75-69 win. “according to https://und.com/mens-basketball-13-15-tar-heels-pull-away-late-in-win-over-notre-dame/

Junior John Mooney turned in a big performance for the Irish, scoring 16 points and grabbing a career-high 19 rebounds for his ACC-best ninth double-double. Freshman Prentiss Hubb scored a career-high 18 points and sophomore D.J. Harvey added 15. “according to https://und.com/mens-basketball-13-15-tar-heels-pull-away-late-in-win-over-notre-dame/

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish knocked down six shots from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes of play to take a 36-33 lead over the Tar Heels into the halftime intermission. Freshman Nate Laszewski buried a three right before the halftime buzzer to cap an 8-0 run to finish the half. “according to https://und.com/mens-basketball-13-15-tar-heels-pull-away-late-in-win-over-notre-dame/

Notre Dame limited UNC’s high-powered offense to just two fast break points in the first frame and the Irish offense was very balanced, as all eight players who saw action scored. “according to https://und.com/mens-basketball-13-15-tar-heels-pull-away-late-in-win-over-notre-dame/

Hubb knocked down a three-pointer to begin the second stanza, giving the Irish their largest lead of the night at 39-33. The Tar Heels managed to claw back and level the score at 45-45 with 16 minutes left in regulation. Over the next 10 minutes of action the lead changed hands nine times, with the hosts taking the lead for good at 60-58 off a made three-pointer. “according to https://und.com/mens-basketball-13-15-tar-heels-pull-away-late-in-win-over-notre-dame/

The Irish hung around in the final minutes but were unable to put a run together and fell by a final score of 75-69. “according to https://und.com/mens-basketball-13-15-tar-heels-pull-away-late-in-win-over-notre-dame/

Tip-off is set for 7:00pm from the Dean E. Smith Center. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.