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11/02 20:37 CST North Carolina wins Michael Malone's coaching debut by beating
Western Carolina 80-72
North Carolina wins Michael Malone's coaching debut by beating Western Carolina
80-72
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) --- Matt Able scored 18 points and North Carolina make a
decisive push in the final six minutes to win Michael Malone's coaching debut
by beating Western Carolina 80-72 on Monday night.
Terrence Brown scored 14 points while Neo Avdalas added 13 for the Tar Heels
(1-0), who used a 13-2 run to finally shake free and build a double-digit lead
against the pesky Catamounts. UNC held Western Carolina without a field goal
for more than five minutes during that burst, which ended with Avdalas burying
a 3-pointer on the catch despite being fouled by a closeout defender for a
77-64 lead with 1:31 left.
Still, it was hardly an easy night for North Carolina, which shot 41.8% and 9
of 30 from 3-point range (30%). In addition, its preseason rebounding concerns
continued into this game with Western Carolina finishing with a 41-32 edge and
nearly doubling UNC on the offensive glass (13-7).
Jaxon Prunty scored 18 points and Jaeden Roberts added 17 points, hitting four
3-pointers, to lead the Catamounts (0-1), who are picked to finish eighth in
the 11-team Southern Conference race. Western Carolina shot just 33.9% but made
10 3s for the game.
The 55-year-old Malone spent 12 seasons as a head coach in the NBA, including a
10-year run in Denver. He led the Nuggets to the 2023 championship behind
three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic. He is the first UNC coach to lead the
program without having played for the Tar Heels or working as an assistant on
staff since Frank McGuire took over in 1952 as the predecessor late Hall of
Fame coach Dean Smith.
Up next WCU: The Catamounts travel to UNC Asheville on Saturday. UNC: The Tar Heels host Wofford on Friday night in the second of six straight games at the Smith Center to open the season. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full men's basketball coverage here
Up next WCU: The Catamounts travel to UNC Asheville on Saturday. UNC: The Tar Heels host Wofford on Friday night in the second of six straight games at the Smith Center to open the season. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full men's basketball coverage here
