Freshman Ian Jackson scored a season-high 26 points and RJ Davis poured in 23 points as part of a record-setting outing as North Carolina finished nonconference play by defeating visiting Campbell 97-81 on Sunday night in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Drake Powell and Elliot Cadeau both scored 12 points and Jalen Washington had 10 points for North Carolina (8-5), which played for the first time since a big comeback to top UCLA on Dec. 21. The Tar Heels shot 57.1 percent from the floor.
Davis shot 5-for-10 on 3-pointers for his most treys this season. When Davis hit his second 3-point basket of the game, it gave him 300 to become the Tar Heels’ all-time leader for 3-pointers. Marcus Paige, now on the coaching staff, had 299.
It was a big second half for North Carolina, which scored 57 points after leading 40-29 at halftime. The margin reached 29 points in the second half.
Colby Duggan scored 32 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the field for Campbell (5-8), which has lost three games in a row. He drained five 3-point shots. Jasin Sinani’s 15 points and Cam Gregory’s 14 points also helped the Camels, who shot 44.4 from the field and committed only seven turnovers.
Campbell hit six of eight 3-point shots late in the game. The teams combined to score 58 points in the final eight minutes when defense appeared to be an afterthought.
Both teams ended up with 10 baskets from 3-point range and went 15-for-20 on free throws.
With Jackson and Powell, the Tar Heels had two freshmen in the starting lineup for the first time since a 2021 NCAA Tournament game. North Carolina swingman Seth Trimble sat out because of an upper-body injury.
Campbell used three first-half timeouts and hung close for a long stretch. But the Camels didn’t score in the final three minutes of the half.
It was the first meeting between the schools that are less than a one-hour drive apart.
–Field Level Media
