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BASKETBALL

North Carolina Tops Syracuse In Chapel Hill

North Carolina won their fourth game in a row as they topped Syracuse in Chapel Hill.

The shots were falling again for North Carolina's Coby White. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

The freshman point guard shook off four games of shooting struggles to score a season-high 34 points, helping the fifth-ranked Tar Heels pull away late to beat Syracuse 93-85 on Tuesday night and maintain their perch atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

White, who entered as UNC's No. 2 scorer at 15.2 points per game, had made 17 of 56 shots in the past four games since going for 33 points against Miami. That included a rough performance in last week's win at then-No. 1 Duke (3 for 14, six turnovers).
Those struggles were gone Tuesday. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

"I've said it before: He's the best scoring point guard that I've coached," UNC coach Roy Williams said, adding: "I knew he was bound to make some because he hadn't made any the last three or four weeks." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

White — who set a North Carolina high school career scoring record — had 15 first-half points and finished with six 3-pointers to go with a 10-for-10 effort in free throws that led North Carolina's all-night parade of shooters to the line. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

Asked what got him going in this one, White had a simple answer. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

"Nothing really, I think I just came out and hit shots," he said. "Got a couple of open ones. I just knocked them down." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

Cameron Johnson added 16 points for the Tar Heels (23-5, 13-2 ACC), who have won 11 of 12 games and own their highest AP Top 25 ranking of the season. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

"North Carolina's playing as well as anybody in the country," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "I think they've got a really great mixture of veteran guys and young guys that can help them." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

White's night aside, it wasn't a great offensive showing for the Tar Heels. They shot just 40 percent but made 34 of 37 free throws (92 percent) while dominating the glass and finishing with 18 offensive rebounds. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

Tyus Battle scored 23 of his 29 points after halftime for the Orange (18-10, 9-6), who shot 48 percent and made 14 of 31 3-pointers. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/2/26/mens-basketball-vs-syracuse.aspx

After three straight games in Chapel Hill North Carolina will travel to South Carolina where they will take on Clemson on Saturday night.