“I think I’ve talked about this with all of the media, that all of our games end just like this,” Alabama State coach Tony Madlock said, according to AL.com. “Either we have to get a bucket or we have to get a stop. … You’re talking about survive and advance.”
It was a thrilling end to a back-and-forth contest between the two small conference teams and got the NCAA tournament off to a dramatic start.
The same cannot be said for the nightcap between No. 11 seeds North Carolina and San Diego State. The Tar Heels demolished the Aztecs, 95-68, in a game that was over by halftime.
The Tar Heels were much maligned on Selection Sunday after getting the final bid of the tournament despite a lackluster résumé that included a 1-12 record vs. Quad 1 — the worst for any at-large NCAA tournament team in the NET era. But they left no question as to which team was more deserving in the round of 64 in their blowout win over the Aztecs.
The First Four will resume on Wednesday with No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s vs. No. 16 American and No. 11 Xavier vs. No. 11 Texas.
San Diego St. was just never in this game from the start. North Carolina was a controversial entry into the NCAA tournament, but they sure played like a team that belonged in the field of 68.
RJ Davis led all scorers with 26 points, shooting 6-of-6 on 3-pointers. Seth Trimble added 16. Jae’Lyn Withers grabbed 10 rebounds, while Elliot Cadeau dished out 12 assists.
For SDSU, Nick Boyd and Wayne McKinney III each scored 12. But the Aztecs could not overcome poor shooting (39.7%) and a red-hot Tar Heels team.
One last Tar Heels 3
Dante Mayo Jr., you get a 3 for North Carolina! The Tar Heels shot 14-of-24 (58%) from long range tonight.
Ian Jackson called “BANK!”
All the shots continue to go in for North Carolina. Ian Jackson launches one from deep to beat the shot clock and the 3 banks in off the backboard.
Hubert Davis is pulling North Carolina’s starters out of the game. The Tar Heels’ bench will bring this blowout to close with 6:35 remaining.
Another RJ Davis 3, UNC leads by 40
RJ Davis knocks down his sixth 3-pointer of the game, this one in transition after Magoon Gwath missed a layup. He has a game-high 26 for North Carolina with 7:31 remaining in the game and the Tar Heels up 82-42.
North Carolina’s RJ Davis is 6-for-6 in 3-pointers, on pace for the best long-range shooting performance in the team’s NCAA tournament history. Only Hubert Davis, the Tar Heels coach, had hit 5-of-5 or better from 3-point range in the tournament (1991 vs. Eastern Michigan).
Miles Byrd out of the game for San Diego St. after twisting his ankle on a non-contact play. His sole appeared to catch on the court as he tried to cut toward the basket. He’s only scored two points, shooting 0-for-4 from the floor.
North Carolina up by 33
Ian Jackson joins the 3-point fun for North Carolina. His shot from deep gives the Tar Heels a 69-36 lead at the 11:31 mark of the second half.
Two free throws from Jae’Lyn Withers and a jumper by SDSU’s Wayne McKinney III preceded another 3 from RJ Davis. The Aztecs can barely chip away at this North Carolina lead.
RJ Davis begins North Carolina’s second half with yet another 3-pointer. He’s 4-for-4 from behind the arc and the Tar Heels are 8-of-11 as a team.
North Carolina’s 47 points are the most San Diego St. has allowed in the first half this season. And the 24-point deficit is the second-largest that the Aztecs have faced under coach Brian Dutcher, per the truTV broadcast.
Would rather be the 11-seed that plays in Dayton than stuck in the 8/9 game. North Carolina’s draw offers an open door to make the second weekend.
I’m sure the UNC takes will be very nuanced and acknowledge that a team can both not have an NCAA tournament-caliber resume and be good enough to advance in the main draw.
RJ Davis has a game-high 11 points for North Carolina, followed by 10 from Seth Trimble. Jae’Lyn Withers has seven rebounds and Elliot Cadeau tallied eight assists.
Magoon Gwath leads San Diego St. with eight points and Nick Boyd added six in the first half.
HALFTIME: North Carolina 47, San Diego State 23
The first half could not have gone any better for the Tar Heels, who shot 61% from the floor and 7-of-9 from 3-point range.
Meanwhile, the Aztecs are shooting 27% and only 4-for-16 on 3s.
North Carolina takes a 24-point lead into the break, 47-23.
RJ Davis hit two consecutive 3s for North Carolina to close out the first half. Davis’ second trey was from deep behind the line, at the edge of the half-court logo with two seconds remaining.
Magoon Gwath hits a jumper for SDSU, but UNC comes right back with Jalen Washington swishing a hook shot from the lane.
North Carolina leads 37-16 with another TV timeout and 3:49 remaining in the first half.
Excellent pick and roll between Elliot Cadeau and Ven-Allen Lubin results in a monster dunk for North Carolina.
The Tar Heels are shooting 65% from the floor.
Nothing going right for San Diego St. right now. Jared Coleman-Jones got position in the post, but he stepped out of bounds while trying to create space under the basket.
North Carolina leads 29-13 and a TV timeout is taken.
