CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Miami coach Jim Larrañaga went into halftime Monday night knowing his 15th-ranked Hurricanes couldn’t keep letting North Carolina attack off the dribble and get to the rim.
So the Hurricanes turned an opponent that struggles from 3-point range into a jump-shooting team.
Jordan Miller and Nijel Pack combined for 47 points to lead the offense, while the Hurrricanes’ second-half shutdown of driving lanes helped Miami beat UNC 80-72 to stay at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title chase.
Miller had 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Hurricanes (21-5, 12-4), who led 35-34 at halftime but shot 52% after the break to take control and build a 14-point lead. Yet it was more about Miami’s defense, which closed off the avenues that had helped the Tar Heels (16-10, 8-7) score 26 points in the paint before the break.
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The Hurricanes hedged even harder on screens after halftime to drive UNC ballhandlers farther from the basket and take that away. UNC managed just 14 points in the paint after halftime.
“They were making layups on us,” Larrañaga said. “We had to take that away. The guys did a great job of doing that. Again, when you fall behind, oftentimes that leads to teams looking for 3s.”
And UNC wasn’t up to the challenge of making them. The Tar Heels came in ranked 14th of 15 league teams in 3-point percentage (31.4%) and made just 5 of 31 attempts from behind the arc.
“In the second half, we tried to do (attack) and they just did a better job of closing down that paint,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “The only way that you can open that up is to make some perimeter jump shots, and we just weren’t able to do it.”
R.J. Davis scored 23 points while Caleb Love had 20 for the Tar Heels, who trailed by 11 in the final 2 1/2 minutes before making a frantic comeback. UNC got within 73-69 on Love’s 3-pointer with 34.9 seconds left, but the Hurricanes made 11 of 14 free throws in the last 63 seconds to stay in control.
Texas Tech guard De’Vion Harmon, right, brings the ball upcourt against Texas guard Marcus Carr during the first half of Monday’s game in Lubbock, Texas.
TEXAS TECH 74, NO. 6 TEXAS 67: De’vion Harmon scored 25 points and Kevin Obanor added 19 as Texas Tech defeated its second ranked opponent in three days, upending Texas in Lubbock.
Fardaws Aimaq had a season-high 12 points for the Red Raiders, who led by 13 in the second half before fending off the Longhorns down the stretch.
Texas Tech (14-12, 3-10 Big 12) also topped No. 12 Kansas State on Saturday.
Texas (20-6, 9-4) tied the game at 64 on a 3-pointer by Dylan Disu, but Tech responded by scoring the next six points as Obanor had two dunks and Aimaq converted a tip-in. Harmon added a driving basket with 35.1 seconds remaining, and the Red Raiders held on.
West Virginia guard Joe Toussaint, center, tries to get past Baylor forwards Jalen Bridges, right, and Josh Ojianwuna during the first half of Monday’s game in Waco, Texas.
NO. 9 BAYLOR 79, WEST VIRGINIA 67: LJ Cryer scored 26 points to lead four players in double figures and Baylor beat West Virginia in Waco, Texas.
Cryer was 8 for 11 from 3-point range to lead the Bears (20-6, 9-4 Big 12), who have won four straight games and 10 of their last 11 after an 0-3 start in the conference.
Adam Flagler added 13 points and Jalen Bridges had 12 for Baylor, which shot 51% from the floor and was 14 for 27 from 3-point range. Keyonte George led the Bears with nine rebounds and seven assists.
Emmitt Matthews Jr. scored 17 points to lead West Virginia (15-11, 4-9), which was 7 for 21 from beyond the arc.
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