North Carolina basketball has struggled in its first halves this season, but Tuesday night was different. The Tar Heels brought energy reminiscent of their win over Notre Dame and jumped out to a lead that they maintained throughout the game. By the end of the first half, North Carolina held a double-digit advantage, 20-10 with just over eight minutes played.
Freshman guard Drake Powell led the team in scoring, netting eight points in the first half, including two three-pointers from deep and three-for-four shooting from the floor. His performance carried over into the second half, where he scored 17 points, hitting four threes, a career-high for the freshman guard.
Coach Hubert Davis praised Powell’s efforts, noting that his shots were similar to those practiced in practice. The confidence Powell showed in taking and making difficult shots was crucial in breaking SMU’s zone defense. As the game transitioned into man-to-man, Powell’s three-pointers opened up scoring opportunities for the Tar Heels.
With Powell playing at this level and Ian Jackson contributing, North Carolina now boasts legitimate go-to scorers on offense. The team looks to build on this momentum as they head to NC State on Saturday.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/unlikely-tar-heels-hero-opened-144415872.html