UNC will face an opponent it has seen many times over the years.
North Carolina defeated Wagner and will move on to the round of 32. The Tar Heels knew their next opponent, should they win, before their own game even started. Although it was a slow start, they turned it up in the second half.
UNC Wins
North Carolina took down Wagner and is five games away. Jae’Lyn Withers and Armando Bacot had big games and helped pace the Tar Heels in the first half. In the second half, RJ Davis caught fire, helping grow the lead. Turnovers were a problem early, but hot shooting and a major size advantage won the game.
Final: UNC- 90 | Wagner- 62
Top Performances
Armando Bacot- 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Jae’Lyn Withers- 16 points and 10 rebounds.
RJ Davis- 22 points.
Next Opponent
Mississippi State and Michigan State played in the #8 and #9 seed game of the west region. In a game that many believed could go either way, it was Michigan State that came out on top. Late in the first half, they went on a couple of runs to push their lead to double-digits. In the second half, they maintained that lead, never letting up.
Stats to Know
- The Spartans came into the game averaging just over six three-pointers made per game. They made 10 in the opening round.
- They average 34.6 rebounds per game compared to UNC’s 41.1.
- Michigan State averages 7.1 steals per game.
- They have experimented with multiple lineups this season, and have two 6’4 guards.
- MSU rotates multiple players, using its deep bench.
- Four players average over 10 points per game.
Round of 32
North Carolina will have its work cut out. Michigan State’s guards are tough, and forward Malik Hall can create matchup problems. Their big men do not score much, and none of the Spartans frontcourt players average more than 5.6 rebounds. Armando Bacot could be primed for a big game.
The Tar Heels and Spartans will play on Saturday.
More must-reads: