Bucknell Bison vs North Carolina Tar Heels Match Player Stats On Nov 15, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 15, 2017

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Luke Maye scored 20 points as No. 9 North Carolina withstood a second-half threat from Bucknell before pulling away for a 93-81 victory Wednesday night at the Smith Center.

The game marked the first action of the season for North Carolina senior guard Joel Berry.

Roy Williams won his 400th game as Tar Heels coach. He's 400-115 in 15 seasons, including 200-27 in the Smith Center.

Maye led the Tar Heels (2-0) in scoring for the second game in a row.

Theo Pinson racked up 19 points, Sterling Manley provided 16 points and 13 rebounds, Garrison Brooks and Kenny Williams both chipped in 10 points for North Carolina.

Zach Thomas and Nana Foulland poured in 21 points apiece for Bucknell (0-3). Stephen Brown had 11 points.

Berry, who was out with a broken bone in his right hand after slamming it against a door following a video game with a teammate and team manager last month, was in the starting lineup. The 2017 Final Four's Most Outstanding Player received a rousing ovation.

Berry hit his first shot, a 3-pointer from the left wing.

The Tar Heels used a 9-2 run to build a 32-22 lead, stretching the edge to 16.

Aided by a 26-10 first-half rebounding advantage, the Tar Heels held a 50-41 halftime lead.

The Bison trailed 56-53, but the Tar Heels entered the 1-and-1 free-throw bonus with 14:18 to play.

Still, Bucknell stuck with it, pulling within 59-58 and missing a potential go-ahead shot with less than 13 minutes left.

Earlier in the day, North Carolina swingman Cameron Johnson, a graduate transfer from Pittsburgh, underwent surgery on a torn meniscus. He's expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks after sustaining the injury in practice Monday. Johnson also missed last week's opener because of a sprained neck.

NOTES: This was the first meeting. ... This was an on-campus game as part of the PK80, a Nike-sponsored event to honor Phil Knight. ... Bucknell had never faced a reigning national champion. ... The Tar Heels hadn't taken on a Patriot League team since exactly four years earlier when defeating Holy Cross. ... North Carolina was without sophomore G Brandon Robinson, who sustained a sprained right shoulder in the opener against Northern Iowa. ... Bucknell plays its fourth road game in as many outings when it visits Maryland on Saturday. ... North Carolina is back in action Monday night at Stanford.