SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Nate Laszewski scored a season-high 20 points, including consecutive 3-pointers to give the lead back to Notre Dame, and the Fighting Irish held on for a 78-73 victory over North Carolina on Wednesday night.
The Tar Heels rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to take the lead on an Armando Bacot bucket before Laszewski hit back-to-back 3s, the second coming with two minutes left, to give Notre Dame (8-5, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) back the lead for good.
RJ Davis made two 3-pointers to keep UNC (10-3, 2-1) close but the Irish, who had only four free-throw attempts previously, made 6 of 7 from the line to secure Notre Dame’s fourth straight win.
Laszewski made 6 of 7 from the arc and grabbed eight rebounds. Blake Wesley added 18 points, Dane Goodwin 17 and Cormac Ryan 11. Notre Dame shot 48%, made 13 of 31 3-point attempts and had just seven turnovers.
Bacot scored 21 points with a career-high 17 rebounds, Davis added 19 points and Caleb Love 15 for UNC, which shot 49%, going 8 of 22 from the arc.
Wesley scored seven of his 13 first-half points in a 12-2 run for a 10-point lead with nine minutes left. Bacot already had his 10th double-double of the season by halftime with 13 points and 11 rebounds. He scored seven points in a 16-10 run to end the half and cut Notre Dame’s lead to 39-35.
UNC was without 6-foot-11 starter Dawson Garcia, a double-figure scorer and second-leading rebounder for the Tar Heels. He suffered a concussion early in Sunday’s win over Boston College. Reserves Kerwin Walton and Justin McKoy were also out because of COVID protocols.
Notre Dame beat UNC for just the second time in the last 11 meetings.
This was Notre Dame’s first game since Dec. 28 after a New Year’s Day game with Duke was postponed because of COVID issues within the Blue Devils program.
UNC is host to Virginia on Saturday.
UNC Asheville 60, Campbell 54
BUIES CREEK, N.C. (AP) — Tajion Jones scored 16 points and UNC Asheville defeated Campbell 60-54 on Wednesday night in a Big South Conference opener for both teams.
LJ Thorpe scored 14 points, with eight rebounds and six assists and Drew Pember scored nine points, secured nine rebounds and blocked eight shots for UNC Asheville (9-5, 1-0).
Ricky Clemons scored 15 points, Jesus Carralero 14 and Messiah Thompson 10 for the Fighting Camels (7-5, 0-1).
Davidson 88, Saint Joseph’s 73
PHILADELPHIA — Foster Loyer had 25 points as Davidson won its 10th consecutive game, topping Saint Joseph’s 88-73 on Wednesday night.
Michael Jones had 18 points for Davidson (11-2, 1-0 Atlantic 10 Conference). Hyunjung Lee added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Sam Mennenga had 13 points.
Dahmir Bishop and Jordan Hall each scored 17 points for the Hawks (7-6, 1-1). Jack Forrest had 13 points.
Gardner-Webb 88, Charleston Southern 63
CHARLESTON, S.C. — D’Maurian Williams had 20 points as Gardner-Webb defeated Charleston Southern 88-63 on Wednesday night.
It was the first Big South Conference game of the season for both teams.
Lance Terry had 19 points for Gardner-Webb (7-7, 1-0 Big South Conference). Anthony Selden added 16 points. Kareem Reid had 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
Tahlik Chavez had 11 points for the Buccaneers (3-10, 0-1), who have now lost four games in a row. Claudell Harris Jr. added 10 points.
East Carolina 88, Tulane 80 OT
GREENVILLE — Tristen Newton scored 14 points in overtime on his way to a career-high 32 to lead East Carolina to an 88-80 win over Tulane on Wednesday night.
Capping a second half that featured five lead changes and five ties, Newton hit a 3-pointer to even the score at 71 with two seconds remaining in regulation and send the game to overtime.
Brandon Johnson had 14 points and 10 rebounds for East Carolina (10-3, 1-0 American Athletic Conference). Brandon Suggs added 12 points and 11 assists. Vance Jackson had 11 points.
East Carolina posted a season-high 25 assists.
Jaylen Forbes had 24 points and seven rebounds for the Green Wave (5-7, 2-1). Jalen Cook added 19 points. Kevin Cross had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
North Carolina A&T 65, Presbyterian 57
GREENSBORO — Demetric Horton scored 26 points as North Carolina A&T defeated Presbyterian 65-57 on Wednesday night in a Big South Conference opener for both teams.
Horton hit 10 of 13 shots.
Marcus Watson had 16 points and 11 rebounds for North Carolina A&T (6-9). David Beatty added 10 points.
Winston Hill had 19 points for the Blue Hose (8-8). Trevon Reddish added 10 points and six rebounds.
Western Carolina 94, The Citadel 90 OT
CULLOWHEE — Nick Robinson had 19 points as Western Carolina edged The Citadel 94-90 in overtime on Wednesday night.
Marcus Banks added 18 points, Vonterius Woolbright scored 17 and Tyler Harris had 16 for the Catamounts. Harris had 11 rebounds.
The game marked the first Southern Conference matchup of the season for both teams.
Tyler Moffe had 19 points for the Bulldogs (6-6, 0-1 Southern Conference). David Maynard added 17 points and seven rebounds. Rudy Fitzgibbons had 15 points. Stephen Clark had a career-high six blocks plus 12 points.
Furman 58, UNC Greensboro 54
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Mike Bothwell had 20 points as Furman narrowly beat UNC Greensboro 58-54 on Wednesday night.
Alex Hunter had 16 points for Furman (10-6, 2-1 Southern Conference), which snapped its four-game road losing streak. Marcus Foster added 13 points and eight rebounds. Jalen Slawson had three blocks.
De’Monte Buckingham had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Spartans (8-5, 0-1). Mohammed Abdulsalam added 11 points and nine rebounds. Kobe Langley had 10 points.
