High-scoring North Carolina rolls over Florida State

After scoring 80 points just twice in its first 13 Atlantic Coast Conference games, North Carolina rolled over Florida State 96-85 on Monday in Tallahassee, Fla., for its fourth straight 80-plus-point effort.

Senior RJ Davis led the Tar Heels with 20 points and added five assists on a night when North Carolina shot 55.2 percent (32-for-58) from the floor.

The Tar Heels (18-11, 11-6 ACC) also reached double-digit offensive rebounding totals (13) for the third time in their four-game winning streak. The Monday result leaves North Carolina a half-game behind the two teams that are tied for fourth place in the ACC -- with the top four teams set to receive double byes in the conference tournament.

Seth Trimble added 17 points for the Tar Heels. Jae'Lyn Withers chipped in with 11 points, and Jalen Washington, Ven-Allen Lubin and Elliot Cadeau each contributed 10 points. Cadeau dished out seven assists.

Florida State (16-12, 7-10) shot 54 percent (27-for-50) for the game but didn't garner its first offensive rebound until a few minutes into the second half.

Jamir Watkins had 18 points in the first half and finished with 26 points for the Seminoles, including a trio of 3-pointers. Jerry Deng added 16 points off the bench, shooting 4-for-6 from 3-point range, but Florida State fell for the third time in four games.

The teams traded leads early in the game, but after Florida State led 34-31 with six minutes remaining until halftime, North Carolina went on an 18-9 run to finish the half and take control. That surge included 3-point buckets from Davis and Washington as well as three baskets from Cade Tyson.

North Carolina extended the lead as far as 16 points in the second half. Florida State, which was within six earlier in the half, periodically crept closer but never pulled nearer than nine the rest of the way.

North Carolina will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Miami. Florida State will visit No. 2 Duke on Saturday.

--Field Level Media