National Basketball Association
North Carolina 102, Monmouth-NJ 74
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Where: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Officials:
# Les Jones, # Doug Simmons, # Jeb Hartness
Attendance:
20064
By The Sports Xchange
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina did enough good things to make it through another victory and now the No. 9 Tar Heels are bracing for a more difficult stretch when Atlantic Coast Conference play begins.
Justin Jackson scored 17 of his 28 points in the first half as North Carolina trounced visiting Monmouth 102-74 on Wednesday night at the Smith Center.
"We've got to start playing a heckuva lot better now," said North Carolina coach Roy Williams, whose team committed 11 of its 17 turnovers in the second half.
Kennedy Meeks provided 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels (12-2) in the nonconference finale for both teams. Isaiah Hicks added 15 points.
"I liked what we did with Justin shooting the ball and getting the ball inside to Kennedy," Williams said. "That was about it."
The outcome ended a school-record nine-game winning streak for Monmouth (10-3), which is coached by former North Carolina player King Rice.
Micah Seaborn scored 19 points, including a heave from just inside midcourt to cap the first half, for the Hawks. Je'lon Hornbeak fouled out with 5:13 left with 17 points and Justin Robinson had 16 -- all in the first half.
North Carolina led 50-41 at halftime despite Monmouth’s 12-2 burst before the break.
Jackson had five 3-pointers in the first 14 minutes and finished with six long-range baskets.
Meeks had eight of North Carolina's first 13 points. Jackson connected on a trio of 3s and it was 26-14.
"The main thing is we have to keep hitting the offensive glass," Meeks said, referring to North Carolina's 21 offensive boards.
Hornbeak scored on a move in the lane to cut the deficit to 56-46 with 17:54 remaining, but he was called for a technical foul before players made it back downcourt. That gave him four personal fouls.
That was the first of three technical fouls on the Hawks in a 55-second span as North Carolina racked up nine points in a row and was never seriously challenged again.
"It got a little out of hand with the technicals and that helped Joel get some points," Williams said, referring to the only points for point guard Joel Berry coming on the six free throws.
Rice, who drew the third technical foul, said he needs to do better at leading by example.
"I am working on it extra hard," Rice said. "When I get that part done, my team is going to be a lot better. ... North Carolina is too good of a team for you not to keep your cool."
North Carolina reached 100 points for the fourth time this season.
The Tar Heels were 33 of 46 from the free throw line.
Other than Jackson, the Tar Heels were 1 of 11 on 3-pointers.
Rice, who played for the Tar Heels from 1987 to 1991, said many in the North Carolina program are responsible for his career since he was recruited by Williams, then an assistant coach.
"All them took a hard-headed young kid and turned me into a man," Rice said. "So tonight I can take losing. I thought we would be closer. Sometimes you have to (look at it) like a learning experience."
NOTES: North Carolina has won at least 12 games before its first ACC game five times under coach Roy Williams. ... The Tar Heels are 105-4 at home in non-league games under Williams. That includes a 102-65 romp past Monmouth on Jan. 1, 2012. ... Senior F Kennedy Meeks became the 20th Tar Heels player to reach 800 career rebounds. ... North Carolina begins ACC play Saturday at Georgia Tech. … Monmouth returns to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference competition Saturday at home against Rider. ... Monmouth G Je'lon Hornbeak has received the past two MAAC Player of the Week honors.
Top Game Performances
| Monmouth-NJ |
|
North Carolina |
|
Micah Seaborn 19 |
Scoring |
Justin Jackson 28 |
|
Justin Robinson 4 |
Assists |
Joel Berry II 5 |
|
Je'lon Hornbeak 4 |
Rebounds |
Kennedy Meeks 12 |
|
Austin Tilghman 8 |
Free Throws Made |
Joel Berry II 6 |
|
Justin Robinson 2 |
Steals |
Tony Bradley 1 |
|
Chris Brady 3 |
Blocks |
Tony Bradley 3 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Monmouth-NJ
|
74 |
32.9 |
9-28 |
19-26 |
7 |
35 |
8 |
7 |
15 |
| North Carolina
|
102 |
43.1 |
7-20 |
33-46 |
22 |
52 |
4 |
4 |
17 |
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