Payback time UNC 89-Hurricanes-64

No. 12 Tar Heels Handle Hurricanes, 89-64

Sean May leads the way with 23 points and 16 rebounds.

Jan 7, 2004

Box Score


By AARON BEARD
Associated Press Writer


CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sean May had 23 points and 16 rebounds to lead No. 12 North Carolina past Miami 89-64 on Wednesday night.


Jawad Williams, Rashad McCants and Jackie Manuel each scored 15 points for the Tar Heels (9-2), who earned their 200th win in the 18-year history of the Smith Center. North Carolina improved to 93-11 against nonconference opponents in the building which opened in January 1986.


Robert Hite scored 27 points to lead the Hurricanes (10-4), who fell to 1-7 against their future Atlantic Coast Conference rival. Darius Rice finished with seven points - 11 below his average - for Miami, which leaves the Big East for the ACC next season.







The Hurricanes won last year's matchup, taking a 64-61 overtime win as North Carolina went without a field goal for the final 12 minutes. The Tar Heels had no such offensive troubles Wednesday, getting nine straight field goals from May to take control.


They increased their lead to 23 points midway through the second half behind several transition baskets, and shot 50 percent for the game.


Miami shot 38 percent and finished with 22 turnovers against the trapping North Carolina defense.


The Tar Heels, who were coming off a 61-56 loss at Kentucky on Saturday, needed this win as they continued through a tough January schedule. North Carolina faces No. 8 Georgia Tech on Sunday, then travels to Maryland before hosting No. 1 Connecticut next week.


May got the Tar Heels going, providing a steady shooting touch inside and the tough rebounding that helped ignite North Carolina's fast break. After starting 0-for-3, he hit his last eight shots of the first half and finished with 17 points and seven rebounds.


The 6-foot-9, 260-pound sophomore did it with an array of moves, from the soft turnaround jumper in the lane to a dunk off a steal from midcourt. He also had a long outlet pass that led to a layup by McCants, capping a 10-2 run that gave the Tar Heels a 44-31 lead with 1:39 to play in the half.


May hit his ninth straight shot 15 seconds into the second half, and the Tar Heels never let their margin dip below 10 points.

 

Heels looked good tonight. That kind of effort last Saturday and they kill Kentucky. Now they need to prove they can play like that 4 or 5 games in a row.

 

I only watched a little of the game, but where was the crowd?? The first 10 minutes or so there sure were lots of empty seats, maybe it filled up later?

 

Not sure I would say they looked good, in comparison to the KY game then yes, but as to where they could be, not even close. May carried us this game with a few others doing ok. I am still not very happy that Felton only took 3 shots. Also McCants isn't trying even close to what he can do, he needs to step and be the player he shows every now and again all the time.

 

Agreed. This was Miami who has been beaten by Rhode Island, who haven't been good since Lamar Odom, and Bradley, who just haven't been good. They had the dead last SOS before this game. For all intents and purposes this was a cupcake. UNC did what they should have, but looked good? Don't know about that. Saying that the same effort would have beaten Kentucky is a little over the top. Miami made it look like there was extra effort because they are pretty bad.

 

Exactly, only two positives really from the game. May did play better and Jawad seemed to do fairly good on his way to recovery. Outside of this, imo the rest looked like they did against KY with Scott no doing as good.

 

1 -2.....
that is UNC CH's record vs. the top 50 RPI teams.

the Illinois win is the only quality win this year. :xyzthumbs

http://www.kenpom.com/rpi.php

 

Wouldn't be so bad, but that big cuse win you guys had is started to look more like they suck as their RPI goes down the tubes.

What's your conference RPI again? Is it still #9 or or falling and I can't get up?

 

syracuse is at #35. yeah thats really down the tubes


by the way, C-USA is ranked #6 in the rpi....where do you get your facts?

 

Syracuse isn't the team everybody thought they were when you guys beat them, and their ranking isn't as good now as it was then, hence my comment.

Actually today C-USA is back upto #5 RPI by using metroids site. I am guessing somebody must have played the Cuse again to move you guys back up from #9.

Oh and by the way did metro steal your login? :vfingers: