Virginia Falls To #10 North Carolina In An ACC Showdown (2-24-24)
By: Ty Tracy
All Photo Credit: Arturo Jones-LMS Network
An ACC showdown as the No. 10 UNC Tar Heels travels up to Charlottesville, VA to take on the UVA Cavaliers with only four regular games left in the season before Conference tournament play and the NCAA tournament coming up in the next several weeks. The Cavaliers looking to bounce back after Monday’s terrible loss against their instate rivals the Virginia Tech Hokies 75 to 41 making their worst conference loss this year.
It was a struggling offensive night for the Cavaliers again scoring under 50 points for the third game in a row. During the first half both teams were struggling offensively with the Cavaliers were 16.7% (5/30) and the Tar Heels at 37% from the field, but Tar Heel’s transfer Guard Cormac Ryan kept the Tar Heels up the whole first half shooting 62.5% from the three-point line and the only one Tar Heel player in doubt figured points (15 points)while their star big man Armando Bacot sat out for the entire 12 minutes of the first half after picking up two fouls and RJ Davis was scoreless shooting (0/6) from the field. The Tar Heels’ defense still managed to keep the Cavaliers struggling on the offensive end without Bacot when the Cavaliers could not manage to capitalize on the opportunity the entire first half. North Carolina never trailed in the entire first half when it was 26 to 16 at halftime.
Right when the second half UVA started to come back alive shooting way better from the field at 39.3% closing the gap down to 47 to 42 with over two minutes left in the game then Freshman Elijah Gertrude made a jump shot with 64 seconds left the game making it 49 to 44. The Tar Heels’ two big men [Armando] Bacot and [Harrison] Ingram grabbed some big offensive rebounds to keep the possession alive during the final minute of the game North Carolina made their final five out of their six free throw shots to hold Virginia as the final score was 54 to 44. As for UNC Cormac Ryan led the team in points finishing with 18 points while adding Bacot with 10 points and 13 rebounds and RJ Davis with 12 points being 90% at the free throw line all in the second half from both players. The Cavaliers have been struggling lately with Jordan Minor and Reece Beekman the only two players in doubt figured points.
UVA Cavaliers Head Coach Tony Bennett mentioned the offense struggles especially today saying “The offense had a tough day. Yeah, it’s been a common thread the past couple of games at that end.” Virginia has now fallen 2.5 games behind 20-8 (11-6 conference). Wake Forest Demon Deacons upset NO. 8 Duke Blue Devils 83 to 79 leaving the Blue Devils one game behind the Tar Heels as they sit number one in the ACC with 21-6 (13-3 conference).
Virginia will face Boston College Wednesday night then Duke Saturday, March second, and Georgia Tech next Saturday, March ninth as their final game of the season. Meanwhile, North Carolina will face Miami on Monday then NC State on March 2, and Norte Dame on March 5, then will finish their final game of the regular season game with their rival again the Duke Blue Devils.
