Roy Williams still rules Raleigh. UNC wins seventh straight at NC State
In a season where almost everything has gone wrong, North Carolina coach Roy Williams still knows how to beat N.C. State.
Junior forward Garrison Brooks scored a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead UNC to a 75-65 win at N.C. State on Monday night.
The Tar Heels (10-10, 3-6 ACC) won their seventh straight road game over the Wolfpack (14-7, 5-5) and Williams improved his record with UNC to 31-4 over N.C. State.
The Heels have struggled with injuries and a limited backcourt this season with star guard Cole Anthony missing his 11th straight game with a knee injury. Freshman guard Jeremiah Francis was also out for UNC on Monday.
UNC’s 59-game home winning streak over Clemson was snapped earlier this month and the Heels lost six straight ACC games for the first time in school history. Throw in Anthony’s extended absence and a handful of other injuries and the struggle has been real.
But Williams knows how to beat N.C. State, especially on the road. He got career win No. 880 to pass his mentor Dean Smith on the NCAA career wins list on Saturday, with a 24-point romp over Miami, and then quickly made it to No. 881 on Monday.
Forward D.J. Funderburk (18 points) and guard Devon Daniels (17 points) led N.C. State but after a hot, early start, the Wolfpack wasn’t able to answer Brooks’ consistent scoring in the paint.
“I thought he completely kicked our butt,” N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts said of Brooks, who matched his career-high with 11 made field goals.
N.C. State scored the first seven points of the game and sophomore forward Jericole Hellems came out on fire. The sophomore forward had eight of N.C. State’s first 12 points but he finished with 10.
Forward Manny Bates returned after missing two games with a concussion but the Heels were able to take a 42-31 advantage on the glass.
Freshman forward Armando Bacot was effective inside, too. He finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Bacot and Brooks combined for 11 of the team’s 14 offensive rebounds.
“I thought we gave up too many offensive rebound,” Keatts said. “ I thought we missed out on free-throw blockouts.”
Brooks turned a missed free throw into a key four-point possession at the end of the half.
Senior guard C.J. Bryce, N.C. State’s leading scorer on the season, went scoreless for the second straight game.
Brooks had 17 points in the first half to help UNC take a 39-35 lead at the break. UNC’s lead reached 11, 63-52, at 8:54 in the second half with three free throws from Brandon Robinson.
N.C. State was able to get as close as four points, 65-61 with 6:36 left, but a key jumper from guard Andrew Platek (eight points) was able to give UNC some breathing room.
“I was hoping to get enough separation to get the crowd out of it and we weren’t able to do that,” Williams said. “But we got the ball to Garrison Brooks and he made enough plays for us.”
And one
Senior guard Brandon Robinson played in obvious pain (ribs) but was able to score 11 points and grab six rebounds in 29 minutes for UNC.
Lane violation
N.C. State was 4 for 20 from the 3-point line. Bryce, Daniels and Markell Johnson were a combined 0 for 12.
ICYMI
Sophomore Leaky Black was one point shy of his career-high with 11 and had seven rebounds. With Anthony and Francis sidelined with knee injuries, Black has been running the point for Williams. K.J. Smith added four rebounds and two points in 11 minutes.
Making sense of the numbers
15-2 Williams’ record in road games against N.C. State, including his stint with Kansas.
0 Points for Bryce for the second straight game. He leads the Wolfpack with 13.9 points per game.
This story was originally published January 27, 2020 at 9:02 PM with the headline "Roy Williams still rules Raleigh. UNC wins seventh straight at NC State."
