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Written by Bob Sutton of the Associated Press.

RJ Davis led the way with 21 points as No. 4 North Carolina defeated Louisville 86-70 on Wednesday night in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This marked the Tar Heels’ seventh consecutive win, their longest streak in five years.

Armando Bacot scored 19 points, while ex-Louisville player Jae’Lyn Withers achieved season bests of 15 points and 10 rebounds as a substitute. Cormac Ryan also contributed 14 points for North Carolina (14-3, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference).

In the eight years since Hubert Davis became coach, the Tar Heels have made their strongest start in the ACC.

They desire additional time. RJ Davis believes the objective should be to dominate for 40 minutes.

He stated that this is the next stage towards our greatness.

Louisville (6-11, 1-5) lost five out of their last six games, despite Skyy Clark scoring 16 points, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield contributing 15 points, and reserve player Tre White adding 12 points. In the second half, the team shot an impressive 64%, but it was still not enough for a win.

Coach Kenny Payne stated that he wants these individuals to experience the feeling of winning a game in North Carolina.

RJ Davis, along with six assists, and Ryan both hit four 3-pointers, helping the Tar Heels secure five consecutive ACC victories with a double-digit lead for the first time in 16 years.

However, the crowd became uneasy when Louisville was able to score seven consecutive points and narrow the lead to 53-45. The Cardinals continued their strong performance in the second half, making nine out of ten shots from the field and bringing the score to 55-50.

“We took a moment to relax and when we looked up, the score was only separated by five points,” stated RJ Davis.

In his debut season with the Tar Heels, Withers scored a basket from the baseline to extend their lead to 65-52 during a 7-0 run. He then followed it up with a three-point play on the following possession.

Hubert Davis stated that Withers was crucial to their win and more than just a good player.

Despite Hubert Davis’ concern over his team’s defense in the beginning of the second half, a silver lining emerged.

He expressed his admiration for our reaction and response.

North Carolina started the game with leads of 15-4 and 26-9, and was ahead 46-29 at halftime.

According to Ryan, our readiness and attitude are key factors. We recognize the importance of not underestimating any team, particularly in league games.

However, unlike the easy victory against Syracuse on Saturday, the Tar Heels had a greater task ahead of them.

According to Payne, they anticipate your mistakes and then punish you for them.

Louisville was attempting to secure consecutive road victories after breaking a 22-game losing streak with an upset win against Miami last week.

BIG PICTURE

Louisville’s basketball team, the Cardinals, had a tough first half with nine turnovers and lost to three different teams ranked in the top 25 by the Associated Press. Despite making at least eight 3-pointers in their last four games, Louisville still has the lowest number of 3-pointers (105) among teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The Tar Heels of North Carolina continue to hold onto their top spot in the ACC, achieving their highest ranking since November 2022. With a perfect 8-0 record at home this season, they maintain their dominance in the conference.

UP NEXT

On Saturday, Louisville will be playing at Wake Forest.

On Saturday, North Carolina will face Boston College.

Source: wralsportsfan.com