CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — RJ Davis scored 25 points and No. 3 North Carolina 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 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 North Carolina’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.
Norchard Omier and Nijel Pack each scored 20 points for the Hurricanes, who lost 60-38 loss at Virginia on Monday.