Yes, it’s a rivalry: 3 takeaways as UNC basketball edges NC State in nail-biting finish

As the clock wound down in regulation, N.C. State had one last chance to force overtime with rival — yes, rival — UNC. The Wolfpack’s Jayden Taylor rose for the layup through contact. The Tar Heels’ Jalen Washington swatted it away.

Game over.

North Carolina, which has found success at Lenovo Center in recent years to the tune of a 9-2 record, made it an even 10 Saturday. UNC toppled N.C. State, 63-61, in the first of two regular-season games between the teams this season, extending the Tar Heels’ winning streak to three games. The Tar Heels have not lost back-to-back games to N.C. State since the 2002-03 season.

Points were hard to come by in the first half for both teams, with the opening 20 minutes highlighted by defense. Marcus Hill scored N.C. State’s (9-7, 2-3 ACC) first 10 points, shooting 5 of 12 roughly 10 minutes into the game. The rest of the Wolfpack was 0 of 11.

Meanwhile, the Tar Heels (11-6, 4-1 ACC) needed a more even scoring approach since the Pack’s defensive effort would not allow any one player to fully get going.

UNC used a 10-0 run late in the first, which it turned into a six-point halftime lead.

Both teams shot better out of the intermission and traded points for the first three minutes. N.C. State, specifically, found a rhythm on the offensive end. The Wolfpack shot 15 of 20 (60%) from the field, one of its best single-half shooting percentages of the season.

Still, UNC led by as many as nine points in the second before N.C. State fought back late. The Wolfpack tied the game with 1:29 remaining on a layup from Hill.

N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts said after the game he was disappointed in officials for not reviewing the final play for goaltending after his squad was called for it twice.

Tar Heel freshman Ian Jackson ranked No. 2 for scoring during ACC play, averaging 20.8 points per game. He scored five points in the first half but went on a heater in the second. The rookie finished with 21 points, two rebounds and an assist. RJ Davis scored 11 points, while Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble were held to four.

Hill led the Pack with 20 points on 10-of-19 shooting. He added nine boards in the loss. Taylor contributed a dozen points and a pair of steals in the loss.

As expected, the matchup featured plenty of chippy play and trash talk, with the officials allowing the teams to play through contact. That led to frustration on both ends, though each team received just one trip to the free-throw line in the first half. The teams finished with 10 fouls apiece.

Here are three takeways from the UNC-NC State rivalry game in Raleigh:

Rivalry? Yes

It’s a rivalry?

Anyone watching Saturday’s game, and the effort that went into it, and the stress each possession seemed to create, would quickly realize it was a rivalry game in the truest sense — a State-Carolina game.

For UNC freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, it was their first. Duke and Cooper Flagg and all that will come later. This was their first State-Carolina game and Jackson was the one who mused, “It’s a rivalry?” earlier in the week after UNC beat SMU.

Jackson was forcing it in the first half Saturday, speeding things up, making mistakes, and did not score until a 3-pointer dropped late. Powell more quickly got into the flow of things.

But Jackson caught up. He nailed a 3-pointer from the corner, in front of the bench, and flashed a smile at his teammates. Moments later, he hit another 3 from the same spot. Another smile.

Just like that, Jackson had 11 points and was UNC’s leading scorer in the game. The 6-4 guard/small forward hybrid is just that dynamic.

With the score tied 40-40, Washington gave Michael O’Connell a quick fake and drove baseline for a left-handed score. Moments later, after a Washington block, Jackson sped down the court for a fast-break score as the Heels edged ahead.

Big-boy basketball

Both coaches were working the refs early, often giving Ron Groover, Tim Clougherty and Jeffery Clark an earful and bolting onto the court during breaks.

It was a hard game to work for the guys in stripes. Neither team shot the ball well to start — certainly not the Pack — and the fights and scrambles for rebounds and loose balls were intense throughout the game. There was a lot of pounding of the flesh.

The Tar Heels’ on-ball defense made for a long first half for the Wolfpack, which shot 22.5% from the field in the first 20 minutes. The Pack often found itself with seconds left on the shot clock and had to settle for 3’s in the first half – missing the first nine.

When the Pack did get the ball low, UNC’s Jalen Washington or Ven-Allen Lubin were there to contest shots or alter shots. Powell, with his long wingspan, is another shot-blocking threat for the Heels.

State’s 20 points in the opening half were its fewest of the season, and that after a 26-point first half against Notre Dame in its last game. Nearly every shot was contested and in the early going only Hill had any luck on the offensive end, scoring the Pack’s first 10 points.

Wolfpack lacks frontcourt depth

Senior Brandon Huntley-Hatfield did not play against UNC because of a shoulder injury, which came against Notre Dame. That left Ben Middlebrooks and Ismael Diouf to occupy the post position.

Despite the Wolfpack being comfortable with running, UNC pushed the pace. The Tar Heels entered the game averaging 74 possessions per game — which ranks No. 7 in the nation — or roughly nine more per game than the Wolfpack averages. Middlebrooks, known as the team’s energy guy, started at the five and played with significant intensity. Still, he looked gassed before the first half ended.

Diouf contributed four points, but his lack of experience led to Middlebrooks playing most of the game. The senior finished with five points, 14 rebounds, two blocks and a steal. He had to play somewhat cautiously late in the second after picking up his third foul.

Huntley-Hatfield collided with an Irish defender midway through the first half. He briefly left the game before returning about three minutes later. Huntley-Hatfield averages 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, leading the team with 76 total boards.

In a physical game where few fouls were called, the lack of size and depth in the post was glaringly obvious. The Pack had been able to cover it up in previous games, but it needs some guys to step up in a big way to help down low.