UNC remained undefeated at home with a 77-74 win over Louisville Monday night. Carolina got a career night from Seth Trimble with 30 points and held on late despite coming uncomfortably close to blowing a 16-point second half lead.
The Cardinals built a lead early with three-pointers before they cooled off and UNC got their offense going. The Tar Heels shot 61% from the field in the first half and kept Louisville off the free throw line entirely, but found themselves only up one at halftime. Louisville couldn’t
buy a basket for an extended period of time in the second half while Carolina built a solid lead for themselves. A 7-0 Louisville run got the Cardinals back into it and they just kept coming to the point that they made it a three-point game with just under a minute remaining.
UNC made things harder than they needed to be for themselves by shooting 47% from the free throw line. They made just nine of their 19 attempts, including three very important ones late. They were out-rebounded by the Cardinals, 41-32, including 16 offensive rebounds.
Trimble really took over the game with his career night. It was the first time he’d made a three-pointer since his game-winner against Duke. Henri Veesaar and Luka Bogavac had 12 points each. Jarin Stevenson had nine points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Free throws have really plagued this team all year, which will continue to make late-and-close situations incredibly nerve wracking. Trimble finished the game solidly at the free throw line, thankfully, but it’s very much flirting with disaster.
Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell combined to shoot 16 of 44 for the Cardinals. Twenty five of their shots came from beyond the arc. The duo finished the game with 47 of Louisville’s 74 points.
UNC will try to stay perfect at home as they welcome Virginia Tech to Chapel Hill on Saturday.
