No. 12 UNC holds on to beat Pitt, 80-78
By Brandon Walker | Tue, 01/31/2017 - 23:38
The trio of Justin Jackson, Isiah Hicks and Joel Berry helped the 12th ranked North Carolina Tar Heels avoid an upset at the hands of the Pittsburgh Panthers by the score of 80-78 Tuesday Night in Chapel Hill, NC.
UNC (20-4, 8-2 ACC) never trailed in the game however they never enjoyed a lead of more than nine points. The Panthers had a chance to win with 4.8 seconds left but a Jamel Artis three point attempt sailed off the glass as the buzzer sounded to preserve the win for the Tar Heels.
Jackson led the Tar Heels with 20 points, Hicks scored 18 points and led the Tar Heels with eight rebounds, and Berry hit five of his nine three-point attempts and scored 19 points.
Cameron Johnson led Pitt with a career high 24 points including six three pointers. Michael Young and Artis added 19 and 17 points respectively. Young also added ten rebounds.
The Panthers (12-10, 1-8 ACC) had much better showing on the road than in recent home games against Miami, Louisville and Clemson. The Panthers know that they are capable of competing with the ACC’s elite teams and should have something to build off of to try to salvage the rest of the season.
The Panthers will have another game on Tobacco Road when they face the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday afternoon.
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