Chucky Hepburn scored 26 factors as host Louisville defeated North Carolina 83-70 in an Atlantic Coast Convention matchup on Wednesday evening.
The host Cardinals (9-5, 2-1 ACC) discovered themselves in a dogfight with the Tar Heels (8-6, 1-1). Louisville led for many of the contest and had been forward 51-40 lower than 5 minutes into the second half. The Tar Heels tied the sport as soon as and had been inside one level on three events, earlier than the Cardinals pulled away within the waning moments.
A 3-point play by Ian Jackson trimmed Louisville’s result in 70-69 with 5:09 remaining. Each groups went scoreless over the following 2:10 earlier than Hepburn sank three free throws. That began a 12-0 run for the Cardinals, who secured their third straight victory.
Louisville additionally surpassed its victory complete from final season. That 8-24 marketing campaign led to Kenny Payne’s firing as coach, with Pat Kelsey employed from the Faculty of Charleston. Kelsey introduced with him an nearly totally new roster for this season, led by Hepburn, a senior level guard who transferred from Wisconsin.
Hepburn scored 19 of his factors within the second half, together with 11 of 14 free throws.
North Carolina led simply as soon as, 15-14, after Cade Tyson’s 3-pointer with 10:15 remaining within the first half. The Cardinals responded with the following seven factors. Louisville led by as many as eight earlier than taking a 37-31 benefit into halftime.
The Tar Heels, who entered because the ACC’s second-leading scoring workforce, shot simply 32.4 p.c within the first half and matched a season-low 31 factors for a half.
Reyne Smith added 17 factors for Louisville, which additionally acquired 11 from James Scott and 10 from J’Vonne Hadley. Scott contributed eight rebounds and two blocks as effectively.
Jackson led the Tar Heels with 23 factors. His 3-pointer with 8:37 left in regulation tied the sport at 61, however Smith answered with a trey 40 seconds later to reclaim the lead for Louisville.
RJ Davis, final 12 months’s ACC scoring champion, scored simply 12 factors and went 4-for-14 from the ground for North Carolina. Drake Powell completed with 14 factors earlier than fouling out with 4:17 left within the second half.
–Subject Degree Media