No. 7 North Carolina manhandles Va. Tech, 96-81

Field Level Media|published: Sat 17th February, 16:19 2024

Feb 17, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Harrison Ingram (55) and forward Jae'Lyn Withers (24) celebrate in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. credits: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Armando Bacot had 25 points and 12 rebounds as No. 7 North Carolina used relentless offense and rebounding to defeat visiting Virginia Tech 96-81 on Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill, N.C.

RJ Davis added 20 points, Cormac Ryan had 16, and Harrison Ingram posted 12 points and 17 rebounds for the Tar Heels (20-6, 12-3 ACC), who reached the 20-win mark for the 64th time in program history.

North Carolina had lost three of its previous five games but avoided its first two-game skid since December.

MJ Collins led Virginia Tech (14-11, 6-8) with 18 points, Mylyjael Poteat had 15 off the bench, former Tar Heel Tyler Nickel produced 14 points, and Lynn Kidd and Hunter Cattoor each had 11. Poteat reached a double-figure total for only the third time this season — all in the past six games.

Davis drained a 3 as the shot clock was about to expire early in the second half and North Carolina was up 55-41.

But the Hokies closed within 57-50 before Bacot had the next two baskets.

Virginia Tech threatened to make a charge with about six minutes to go, but Davis scored on his own putback and a 3-pointer to stretch the gap to 84-72.

The Tar Heels shot 56.7 percent from the floor in the second half, 51.5 percent for the game. Carolina scored 54 points in the paint.

North Carolina benefited from some strong work on the offensive boards on the way to a 50-39 halftime lead. That was the most first-half points allowed this season by the Hokies. All five Tar Heels starters had six or more points by the break.

After falling behind in the opening minutes, the Tar Heels scored 10 straight points for a 10-5 lead.

Nickel, a reserve guard who played for North Carolina last season, hit 3-pointers on his first two attempts.

But Bacot scored for the first time near the 10-minute mark of the first half, and his consecutive baskets contributed to an 8-1 run as the Tar Heels built a 29-18 lead.

This was the only scheduled meeting of the season between the teams and the outcome snapped the Hokies' two-game win streak in the series.

—Field Level Media