CORAL GABLES, Fla. — RJ Davis scored 25 points and No. 3 UNC held off Miami for a 75-72 victory on Saturday.
Armando Bacot had 10 points and 15 rebounds for the Tar Heels (19-5, 11-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) in their first game since an 80-76 home loss to Clemson on Tuesday. Elliot Cadeau scored 19 points, and Harrison Ingram finished with 13.
The win snapped a two-game skid against Miami, including a 28-point road loss two years ago.
“I like 20-point wins — that would be great — but Miami’s a really good team,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “We haven’t had very much success against them of late, especially here. They continued to fight and we made a couple of plays down the stretch to be able to pull out the win.”
The Tar Heels took the lead for good with an 18-7 spurt to start the second half. Bacot’s layup made it 58-48 with 13:11 remaining.
Miami (15-9, 6-7) closed to 73-71 on Wooga Poplar’s layup with 1:10 left. Ingram and Cormac Ryan each made a foul shot to increase UNC’s lead to 75-71.
Bacot fouled Poplar with two seconds remaining. Poplar made the first free throw and deliberately missed the second for an offensive rebound opportunity. Officials ruled Miami committed a lane violation on Poplar’s attempt.
“The last three to four minutes we have to be better but I’m glad we got out with a win in an environment like this,” Bacot said. “To beat them and to beat them here is amazing.”
Norchard Omier and Nijel Pack each scored 20 points for the Hurricanes, who lost 60-38 at Virginia on Monday.
Davis was 5 for 11 from 3-point range. He also was assigned to defend Pack for most of the second half. Pack scored two points and shot 1 of 8 from the field after halftime.
“He’s a great player because of his shot-making capability and creating space,” Davis said. “I was trying to make his catches difficult and pressure him on ball screen coverages. Just trying to make it difficult because he’s a really good player.”
Omier and Pack each scored eight points during a 19-5 run late in the first half that erased an eight-point deficit. Pack’s jumper put the Hurricanes ahead 37-33 with 3:01 left.
Davis’ layup in the closing seconds moved UNC within one at the break.
Bacot set a Tar Heels record by playing in his 156th game, surpassing Leaky Black, who played between 2018 and 2023. The graduate senior also overtook Sam Perkins for third on the school’s career points list with 2,149. He also tied Oscar Robertson and Michael Brooks for eighth most double-doubles in NCAA history with 79.
“It’s great just to be at this point and have the milestones and all that but just excited we got that win,” Bacot said. “That’s all that really matters.”
UNC visits Syracuse on Tuesday.
Wake Forest 83, NC State 79
WINSTON-SALEM — Hunter Sallis scored a career-high 33 points and Wake Forest outlasted NC State and DJ Horne 83-79 on Saturday to split their season series.
Gonzaga transfer Sallis was 12-of-17 shooting, 4 of 6 on 3-pointers and made all five of his free throws.
Sallis’ final two free throws came with 1.7 seconds left after Horne was short on a well-defended midrange jumper. Horne finished with a season-high 31 points on 13-of-21 shooting, including 4 of 7 from the arc.
Andrew Carr’s shot in the paint gave the Demon Deacons (16-7, 8-4 ACC) the final lead with 18.1 seconds left.
Carr finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Kevin Miller had 10 points and six assists and Cameron Hildreth also scored 10 points.
DJ Burns finished with 14 points and Mohamed Diarra had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolfpack (15-9, 7-6).
Wake Forest trailed by six at halftime but held a slim lead for most of the final 10 minutes in going on to win its third straight and avenge an 83-76 loss in the teams’ first meeting this season.
Horne made a couple of acrobatic layups and a 3-pointer in the final 3½ minutes of the first half when he scored 10 straight points to help the Wolfpack go into the break ahead 45-39. Horne had 19 points in the half while Sallis kept the Deacons close with 18.
The Demon Deacons play at No. 9 Duke on Monday, while NC State plays at Clemson next Saturday.
High Point 78, Gardner-Webb 62
BOILING SPRINGS — Juslin Bodo Bodo’s 18 points helped High Point defeat Gardner-Webb 78-62 on Saturday.
Bodo Bodo also contributed 16 rebounds for the Panthers (21-5, 10-1 Big South Conference). Kimani Hamilton scored 15 points, and Kezza Giffa, just 1-of-15 shooting, made 13 of 13 from the line to finish with 15 points while adding three steals.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs (11-14, 6-4) were led by Caleb Robinson, who recorded 16 points and eight rebounds, and DQ Nicholas, who also scored 16 points and had two steals for Gardner-Webb. Quest Aldridge had 14 points.
Appalachian State 109, Toledo 104 (2OT)
BOONE — Donovan Gregory had 24 points in Appalachian State’s 109-104 double-overtime win over Toledo on Saturday in the MAC-SBC challenge.
Gregory added six rebounds and three blocks for the Mountaineers (20-5) of the Sun Belt Conference. Myles Tate scored 20 points with seven rebounds and three steals. Jordan Marsh finished with 17 points.
The Rockets (15-9) were led by Dante Maddox Jr., who recorded 25 points, five assists and two steals. Toledo (Mid-American Conference) also got 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks from Tyler Cochran. Sonny Wilson had 17 points and seven rebounds.
UNC Wilmington 95, Hampton 65
HAMPTON, Va. (AP) — KJ Jenkins scored 16 points as UNC Wilmington beat Hampton 95-65 on Saturday.
Jenkins shot 7 for 12 for the Seahawks (18-6, 9-3 Coastal Athletic Association). Trazarien White added 14 points and 11 rebounds. Donovan Newby finished with 14 points.
The Pirates (5-20, 0-12) were led in scoring by Kyrese Mullen, who finished with 23 points and nine rebounds. Jerry Deng added 19 points and six rebounds for Hampton. In addition, Jordan Nesbitt had nine points, six rebounds and five assists.
Campbell 95, Stony Brook 77
BUIES CREEK — Anthony Dell’Orso scored 24 points as Campbell beat Stony Brook 95-77 on Saturday.
Dell’Orso had five rebounds for the Fighting Camels (12-13, 6-6 Coastal Athletic Association). Jasin Sinani scored 17 points and added seven rebounds. Elijah Walsh finished with 14 points.
The Seawolves (13-12, 6-6) were led by Aaron Clarke, who posted 16 points and five assists. Dean Noll added 16 points for Stony Brook. In addition, Tyler Stephenson-Moore had 10 points and two blocks.
Western Carolina 79, Mercer 46
CULLOWHEE — Vonterius Woolbright scored 16 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists as Western Carolina beat Mercer 79-46 on Saturday.
Woolbright recorded his third triple-double of the season for the Catamounts (18-7, 7-5 Southern Conference). Tre Jackson also scored 16 points, and Kamar Robertson finished with 15 points.
The Bears (11-14, 4-8) were led in scoring by David Thomas, who finished with 18 points.
No. 9 Duke 80, Boston College 65
DURHAM — No. 9 Duke’s depth of resources went on full display as all five starters scored in double figures in an 85-60 win over Boston College on Saturday, another indication that the Blue Devils don’t have to rely solely on preseason All-American Kyle Filipowski.
Mark Mitchell scored 17 points, and Filipowski and Jeremy Roach each added 16 for Duke (18-5, 9-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which has won a pair of home games since last weekend’s loss at rival UNC. Jared McCain provided 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Tyrese Proctor had 10 points.
It was the seventh game in a row that Filipowski, who’s the team’s scoring and rebounding leader, wasn’t Duke’s top scorer.
“We try to take some of the load off him,” Mitchell said. “We know he has a lot on his plate.”
Mason Madsen led Boston College (13-10, 4-8) with 15 points, while Claudell Harris Jr. had 13 points, Devin McGlockton posted 11 points and Jaeden Zackery finished with 10 points.
The Eagles, who’ve never won in Durham in 14 all-time visits, shot 5-for-26 on 3-point attempts.
Boston College also would have had five double-digit scorers, but team scoring leader Quinten Post was held to eight points, taking only five shots from the field in 32 minutes.
“I thought our defense was terrific,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said.
Duke stretched a 36-32 halftime lead in a hurry. By the time, Mitchell scored five points in a 28-second span the Blue Devils held a 56-43 lead.
“We just had to hold that lead the rest of the game,” Filipowski said.
Boston College didn’t score on its first four possessions after halftime and managed only five points in 5½ minutes.
“It was the first part of the second half that really flipped the game,” Boston College coach Earl Grant said. “We had that one patch where we turned it over a couple of times.”
Duke hosts Wake Forest on Monday.
UNC Asheville 77, South Carolina Upstate 64
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Drew Pember scored 28 points as UNC Asheville beat South Carolina Upstate 77-64 on Saturday night.
Pember added 16 rebounds for the Bulldogs (17-9, 9-2 Big South Conference). Caleb Burgess scored 14 points and added five assists. Nicholas McMullen finished with 12 points.
Jalen Breazeale led the Spartans (8-16, 3-8) in scoring, finishing with 13 points and four assists. Justin Bailey added 11 points and six rebounds for South Carolina Upstate. In addition, Nick Alves had 11 points.
Both teams play on Wednesday. UNC Asheville hosts Presbyterian and South Carolina Upstate travels to play High Point.
East Carolina 84, UTSA 73
SAN ANTONIO — Brandon Johnson’s 30 points led East Carolina past UTSA 84-73 on Saturday night.
Johnson also had nine rebounds for the Pirates (12-12, 5-6 American Athletic Conference). RJ Felton added 16 points and six rebounds. Ezra Ausar finished with 11 points.
Jordan Ivy-Curry finished with 14 points for the Roadrunners (8-16, 2-9). UTSA also got 12 points from PJ Carter. Adante’ Holiman also had 11 points and two steals.
East Carolina took the lead with 19:36 to go in the first half and never looked back. The score was 48-25 at halftime, with Johnson racking up 21 points.
Both teams next play Thursday. East Carolina hosts Wichita State, and UTSA plays Charlotte on the road.
Chattanooga 89, UNC Greensboro 61
GREENSBORO — Trey Bonham’s 31 points led Chattanooga past UNC Greensboro 89-61 on Saturday night.
Bonham had seven assists and four steals for the Mocs (17-8, 9-3 Southern Conference). Honor Huff scored 19 points, and Myles Che finished with 14 points.
Mikeal Brown-Jones finished with 25 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans (17-8, 8-4). Keyshaun Langley added 12 points and four assists for UNC Greensboro. Donovan Atwell also put up 11 points.
Bonham led his team in scoring with 12 points in the first half to help put them up 44-31 at the break.
George Mason 57, Davidson 55
DAVIDSON — Keyshawn Hall’s 25 points helped George Mason defeat Davidson 57-55 on Saturday.
Hall added six rebounds for the Patriots (16-8, 5-6 Atlantic 10 Conference). Tre Wood finished with 12 points, and Austin Ball had eight points.
Reed Bailey led the way for the Wildcats (13-10, 3-7) with 22 points and six rebounds. Connor Kochera added 12 points for Davidson. Bobby Durkin also had 11 points and four steals.
Hall’s 22-point second half helped George Mason finish off the two-point victory.
Hofstra 81, North Carolina A&T 49
GREENSBORO — German Plotnikov had 20 points in Hofstra’s 81-49 victory against North Carolina A&T on Saturday.
Plotnikov also contributed seven rebounds for the Pride (15-10, 8-4 Coastal Athletic Association). Tyler Thomas scored 19 points and added 10 rebounds. Jacco Fritz had 13 points.
Camian Shell finished with 14 points for the Aggies (7-18, 5-7). Ahmad Hamilton added 11 points for N.C. A&T. Nikolaos Chitikoudis also put up eight points, eight rebounds and two steals.
Austin Peay 79, Queens University 76
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Dezi Jones finished with 27 points and Isaac Haney had a go-ahead three-point play late and scored 21 to help Austin Peay rally for a 79-76 victory over Queens University on Saturday.
Jones shot 10 for 20 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) for the Governors (13-13, 6-5 Atlantic Sun Conference). He added two free throws with two seconds left for the final margin. Haney made 6 of 12 shots with a 3-pointer and grabbed five boards. Sai Witt scored 18 on 8-for-11 shooting from the floor. He was 2 for 6 at the foul line.
The Royals (10-16, 4-7) were led by AJ McKee with 31 points. BJ McLaurin added 18 points and seven rebounds, while Bryce Cash scored 11.
