The Tar Heels proved once again they have arguably the best backcourt in the country.
The UNC basketball program’s guards accounted for over 78% of the team’s points in its 87-69 win over Hawaii on Saturday morning. In North Carolina’s first trip to Honolulu since 2016, the Tar Heels leaned on their strength all night to earn the hard-fought victory.
69. 505. Final. 87. 441. UNC v Hawaii
After 2:30 of scoreless action, graduate guard RJ Davis finally took the goose eggs off the board with a triple from the left wing. It was the start of a 13-2 run for the Tar Heels, with the backcourt scoring 11 of the 13 points.
Hawaii was unable to match the speed and athleticism of UNC’s guards. After the Rainbow Warriors went on a 6-1 run at the end of the first frame, sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau quieted the storm. He drove to the basket and laid the ball up through contact for an and-1.
North Carolina took a 41-34 lead to the break. Davis earned a milestone in the first half, passing Sam Perkins for fourth on the all-time UNC scoring list. He finished the half with 14 points to lead the Tar Heels.
The second half was more of the same for UNC’s backcourt. The Tar Heels rushed out to an 11-2 run to start the frame, with all three starting guards contributing to nine of those points.
Their connection was on display with 16:12 remaining in the game when Cadeau picked the pocket of Hawaii’s Kody Williams. He picked up the loose ball and found a streaking junior guard Seth Trimble down the court, who leaped in the air and dunked it home through contact. And-1.
The Tar Heels dominated the fast break, outscoring the Rainbow Warriors, 19-1.
In a game where UNC’s forwards struggled, the performance from the guards was all the more imperative. Hawaii out-rebounded UNC, 40-27. Starting forwards Jalen Washington and Jae’Lyn Withers combined for just 10 points.
But the backcourt picked up the slack in a major way, and the Tar Heels avoided an upset scare because of it.
The UNC basketball program will continue its Hawaiian campaign on Monday against Dayton. The matchup is part of the opening round of the Maui Invitational.
