CHAPEL HILL — Armando Bacot had all but one of his 28 points after halftime to help No. 1 UNC push past the College of Charleston 102-86 on Friday night.
The 6-foot-11 preseason Associated Press All-American got just one shot attempt in an opening half that set the tone for an offensively driven game with neither team able to string together defensive stops.
The Tar Heels (2-0) had to outscore the Cougars (1-1) after trailing at halftime — and needed to establish Bacot in the paint as a physical and rugged presence to get that going.
Bacot went 10 for 12 from the field after the break to go with six rebounds, while Caleb Love added 25 points. With Bacot rolling, UNC made 20 of 28 shots (71.4%) after halftime and finished the game shooting 60%.
Dalton Bolon scored 14 of his 16 points before halftime for the College of Charleston, which led by eight points in the first half and 50-43 at halftime. The Cougars shot nearly 53% in the first 20 minutes and hovered well beyond 50% for the game until fading in the final minutes as the Tar Heels finally asserted control.
UNC hosts Gardner-Webb on Tuesday night.
NC State 73, Campbell 67
RALEIGH — Jarkel Joiner hit a jumper with 31 seconds left and Jack Clark added two free throws as NC State held off Campbell 73-67 Friday night.
Joiner scored 11 points over the final 10 minutes, and after Anthony Dell’Orso’s jumper pulled Campbell within two, 60-58, got to the basket for a pair of layups and hit his final jumper to help put the game away.
Terquavion Smith led the Wolfpack (2-0) with 19 points, adding six assists and three steals. Joiner finished with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals and Clark added 10 points and nine rebounds, converting 6 of 7 at the free-throw line.
NC State shot 50% from the field (24 of 48), but was just 4 of 16 from beyond the 3-point arc. The Wolfpack shot 21 of 32 from the line.
Ricky Clemons scored 18 points and dished eight assists to lead the Camels (1-1). Jesus Carralero had 13 points with seven rebounds and six assists and Joshua Lusane added 11 points off the bench.
Campbell was 25 of 53 from the field (47.2%) and hit 55.6% from distance (10 of 18).
Wake Forest 81, Georgia 71
WINSTON-SALEM — Daivien Williamson had 24 points, Tyree Appleby scored 22 and Wake Forest turned back Georgia 81-71 on Friday night.
Williamson sank 7 of 13 shots with three 3-pointers for Wake Forest (2-0). Appleby added six rebounds and six assists. Davion Bradford buried all five of his shots and scored 11.
Williamson had 15 points in the first half to help the Demon Deacons take a commanding 41-22 lead at the break.
Mardrez McBride scored all 13 of his points in the second half and Georgia used a three-point play by Justin Hill and a 3-pointer by Terry Roberts to pull within 73-65 with 1:21 left to play. Two free throws by Appleby ended the Bulldogs’ 18-7 run and wrapped up the win for Wake Forest.
Roberts added 13 points and five assists for Georgia (1-1). Kario Oquendo had 12 points and KyeRon Lindsay scored 10 before fouling out.
The Demon Deacons shot just under 51% from the floor and made 9 of 26 from 3-point range. The Bulldogs shot 41.9% overall and hit 8 of 27 from distance.
Georgia is led by first-year coach Mike White, who joined the Bulldogs after seven seasons as coach of the Florida Gators. Appleby played for White in his last two seasons at Florida.
The Bulldogs are 4-3 all-time versus Wake Forest.
UNC Wilmington 104, Allen 55
WILMINGTON — Trazarien White scored 17 points and Amari Kelly had 14 on 7-for-7 shooting and UNC Wilmington beat Division II-member Allen 104-55 on Friday night in their home opener.
The Seahawks (1-1) had 14 players score and finished the night shooting 43 for 72 (59.7%). UNC Wilmington built a 22-4 lead six minutes in and never trailed.
Darius Williams scored 19 points and Peyton Weathersby 13 for Allen. Allen is playing in its first full season at the Division II level.
Miami 79, UNC Greensboro 65
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Jordan Miller scored 19 points and Miami pulled away in the second half to be UNC Greensboro 79-65 on Friday night.
Miller sank 8 of 12 shots from the floor for Miami (2-0), including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. He added seven rebounds.
Keondre Kennedy had nine points and Bas Leyte scored eight to guide UNC Greensboro (1-1) to a 34-33 lead at halftime. Miller had 12 points to keep Miami close.
Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the second half and the Hurricanes never trailed again.
Isaiah Wong hit three 3-pointers and scored 15 for Miami. Pack had 14 points and four assists. They combined for 21 points in the second half. Norchard Omier finished with 11 rebounds and four assists, scoring six.
Mikeal Brown-Jones topped the Spartans with 13 points. Kennedy and Leyte both scored 12. Kennedy had seven of the team’s 27 rebounds. Dante Treacy scored 11.
The Hurricanes shot 53% overall and sank 13 of 27 from 3-point range. The Spartans shot 41% from the floor and made 8 of 24 from distance.
Miami shot just four free throws in the game and made them all. UNC Greensboro sank 9 of 13 foul shots.
Iowa 112, N.C. A&T 71
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Kris Murray had 22 points and eight rebounds, Patrick McCaffery added 21 points and Iowa beat North Carolina A&T 112-71 on Friday night.
McCaffery scored nine points in Iowa’s 14-3 game-opening run and Murray scored during their 11-0 run to close the half for a 52-32 lead. McCaffery and Murray each scored 15 points in the first half, nearly matching N.C A&T’s output.
After N.C. A&T scored first in the second half, Iowa rattled off 16 straight points for a 34-point lead. Murray scored seven points during the run.
Payton Sandfort added 17 points and Filip Rebraca scored 12 for Iowa (2-0). Iowa coach Fran McCaffery is now five wins from 500.
North Carolina A&T (1-1) was led by Kam Woods’ 18 points. Marcus Watson and Demetric Horton each added 16 points, and Austin Johnson had nine points and 14 rebounds.
N.C. A&T plays at Iowa State on Sunday.
East Tennessee State 77, Elon 64
ASHEVILLE — Jalen Haynes scored 17 points and had six rebounds and Deanthony Tipler scored 15 points and East Tennessee State beat Elon 77-64 on Friday night.
Jordan King added 13 points for the Buccaneers (2-0).
John Bowen finished with 17 points for the Phoenix (1-1) and Zac Ervin scored 11.
In shooting 7 for 18 from 3-point range, East Tennessee State now has made at least one 3 in 1,093 consecutive games. It’s the fourth-longest streak in the NCAA, with UNLV topping the list with 1,162 games. East Tennessee State started the streak on Feb. 16, 1987 against Davidson.