Off the cuff: Against Richmond, Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige are the only Tar Heels to score in double figures in each of the first four games.
Johnson was 8 for 12 from the free throw line. Prior to today, he had never made more than two free throws in a college game.
Carolina scored a season-high 27 points off the Spiders' 17 turnovers. The Tar Heels also had a 10-0 edge in fast break points.
The Tar Heels made 26 of 37 free throws and shot 70.3 percent from the line, including 76.5 percent in the second half. That comes after a 22 for 48 performance in a three-point loss to Belmont in UNC's previous game. James Michael McAdoo, Brice Johnson and J.P. Tokoto were a combined 13 of 18 today after making a collective 17 of 40 against Belmont.
Carolina has come from behind to win in two of the first four games. UNC trailed Holy Cross by three and won by eight and trailed Richmond by nine (17-8) before winning, 82-72. UNC also rallied from an 11-point deficit against Belmont to take an eight-point lead, but eventually lost, 83-80.
Tar Heels 82, Richmond 72 Paige, Johnson lead Heels over Spiders
After the Richmond Spiders jumped out to a 10-2 lead, images of Belmont danced through Tar Heel fans' heads. But neither Marcus Paige nor Brice Johnson would let North Carolina lose as the Tar Heels found a way to win 82-72 to advance in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament. (11/23)
Paige and Johnson hit a bunch of big shots in the game. After Carolina fell down by nine points, the Heels tied it at 17-all on a Johnson jumpshot.
The Tar Heels had a tough time getting the lead. Paige tied it again at 21 on a pair of free throws. A Johnson dunk tied it at 33 and two Paige free throws gave the Heels their first lead at 35-33 with 38 seconds left in the first half.
Richmond tied it at 38 early in the second half. A Nate Britt layup at the 16:54 mark gave the Heels a lead but Richmond tied it at 51 midway through the second half.
A Paige three-pointer put the Heels up for good at 59-56. Carolina slowly extended the lead up to as many as 12 points before the Heels settled for the 10-point final margin.
Paige finished with a career high 26 points while Johnson finished with a career high 24 points.
North Carolina, now 3-1, will play Louisville in the finals of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament.
