It wasn't the easiest win for North Carolina, but, after a season of stewing through an NIT appearance, it must have been a relief.
Lipscomb traded the lead with the Tar Heels in the first half, but last led with more than four minutes to play in the opening stanza. The Bison pulled to within five at 63-58, but the Heels finished on a 17-8 run to salt away the season opener.
Junior Tyler Zeller scored a team-high 15 points. Barnes got off to a quick start, scoring his first basket on a jumper seven seconds into the game.
Incumbent point guard Larry Drew II started, but scored just four points, all from the free throw line. Drew had just two assists against two turnovers in 29 minutes. Kendall Marshall, the freshman point guard who might supplant Drew in the starting lineup, had a strong night off the bench, scoring 10 points to go with three assists against a pair of turnovers. Marshall, not Drew, finished the game for the Tar Heels.
Fellow freshman Reggie Bullock also scored 10 points off the bench.
The big story might have been the play of John Henson. Though Lipscomb isn't exactly an ACC caliber opponent, the wiry power forward pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds and blocked seven shots. Henson's previous high for rebounds was 12, on two occasions. The sophomore also scored 10 points in the victory.
Ten Tar Heels played double digit minutes.
Josh Slater led Lipscomb with 21 points. The Bison have yet to defeat a ranked team in four tries.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I have been a Tarheel fan for many years. I don't see this team being good enough to be ranked #8 in the country. The team is not very deep and real young.
I'm a true blue thru and thru and have to agree, was concerned about that pre-season #8 ranking. They're young. Got to give Roy and his boys rebuilding time. Only thing I hope the returning players (who didn't bail and run home to Daddy) learned a valuable lession last year...Championships don't come easy and you, as a team, have to fit together like a puzzle to have a team like you had with Hansbrough, Lawson and the others. So stop slacking off in your play, throwing the ball around and having so many turn overs. Put some heart in it and pay attention...it will come. And as far as this guy being the new Hansbrough...lol...they'll never be another Hansbrough. Just like they'll never be another Jordan, Ford, and many others who have come though leaving their mark. GO HEELS!!!!!
I guess this kid plays one game and he is already your new Tyler Hansborough. Lets see how they do in the opening tournament.