North Carolina Tar Heels Make a Statement with a 107-55 Blowout
Nov 15, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Elliot Cadeau (3) scores in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Well, hold on to your basketballs, folks! Last night, the No. 10 North Carolina Tar Heels stormed the court with the fervor of a cat that just spotted a laser pointer. They trounced the American Eagles, sauntering to a 107-55 victory that had all the finesse of a well-choreographed dance—if the dance involved some serious three-point shooting!
In the midst of this Tar Heel tirade, Jalen Washington put on a show, racking up a career-best 18 points. I mean, if points were pounds, he’d be leading the heavyweight division! Elliot Cadeau joined the fun, dropping 15 of his 18 points in the first half. Clearly, he was on fire, though I assume it was the basketball net and not an actual bonfire.
The night also saw RJ Davis and Seth Trimble contributing a fine 13 points each. And let’s not forget reserve Cade Tyson, who added 11 points, proving that the bench isn’t just a place for players to catch their breath—it’s a springboard for unexpected talent!
Now, if you thought shooting a basketball was simple, try making 7 out of 22 three-pointers like North Carolina did. They finally found their perimeter shooting legs after more misses than a blindfolded dart player at a pub. But don’t worry, it seems they had their second-half espresso; nine of the first ten points of the half put them firmly in the driver’s seat at 52-35.
The Second Half: Show Time!
Once they started hitting those treys, it was as if someone had turned on the green light at a racetrack—Tyson dropped a 3-pointer like it was pages out of a failed romance novel, while Trimble’s jumper stretched the lead to a comfortable 64-45. At this point, the only suspense remaining was whether American would climb back into the game or fold like a cheap suit. Spoiler alert: they folded!
Let’s not talk about the first half’s free throw performance, because if you weren’t keeping a scorecard for American, you might have forgotten they were there. Zero free throws attempted until long into the second half—missing eight consecutive meals while the Tar Heels feasted at the free-throw feast. Talk about poor planning!
The American Eagles had a rough evening, finishing with a 22.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc. I mean, if they’d wanted to give up three-point shots that easily, they could’ve just invited their opponents over for tea instead!
Shout-outs and Wrap Up
Matt Rogers tried valiantly for American, with a commendable 15 points, accompanied by reserve Elijah Stephens chipping in 12. But much like a bad haircut at a good salon, it just didn’t work out for them.
As the game progressed, North Carolina, which had so recently turned over a disappointing loss to No. 1 Kansas, shivered off the cobwebs and showed everyone why they’re a force to be reckoned with. So mark your calendars; this may just be the beginning of a very fun basketball season!
No. 10 North Carolina showcased their strength in a commanding 107-55 victory against American, fueled by a remarkable second half performance on Friday night in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Jalen Washington led the charge with a career-best 18 points, demonstrating his offensive prowess.
Elliot Cadeau made an impactful contribution, scoring 15 of his 18 points in the fast-paced first half, while both RJ Davis and Seth Trimble chipped in 13 points each. Additionally, reserve player Cade Tyson added 11 points off the bench, further bolstering the Tar Heels’ scoring arsenal.
Washington, a standout junior forward, displayed remarkable efficiency, finishing the night with a perfect shooting record of 6 of 6 from the floor. After a challenging start, North Carolina finally found their rhythm from beyond the arc, concluding the game with a 3-point shooting percentage of 31.8% (7 of 22).
Notably, Matt Rogers emerged as a bright spot for American, netting 15 points, while bench player Elijah Stephens contributed 12 points. This loss marked American’s ongoing struggle on the road, as they fell to 0-3 in away games this season.
North Carolina rapidly extended their lead, igniting a surge by scoring nine of the first ten points in the second half, pushing their advantage to 52-35.
The turning point came when Tyson sank a 3-pointer, igniting a scoring spree after the Tar Heels had missed their initial ten attempts from long range. Following Tyson’s momentum shift, North Carolina hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, with Trimble’s jumper extending the lead to 64-45.
After a week off following a narrow 92-89 loss to the top-ranked Kansas, the Tar Heels regrouped effectively, having led by as many as 12 points late in the first half before heading into halftime with a 43-34 advantage.
In the first half, North Carolina showcased their free-throw shooting finesse, sinking 15 of 19 attempts, while American was unable to earn a single free throw. The Tar Heels struggled to find their shooting form, missing all of their six attempts from three-point range before intermission.
North Carolina took time to find their footing but soon surged back, narrowing the gap to 23-20 shortly after the midpoint of the first half, with Cadeau already having scored 11 points at that juncture.
The matchup was characterized by a strong start, as both teams combined to shoot 19 of 28 from the field within the first 12 minutes of action.
American finally converted their first free throw just 59 seconds into the second half; however, it became evident that they were heavily relying on long-range shooting, with over half of their attempts being three-pointers. The Eagles ended the game hitting only 7 of 31 shots from beyond the arc, resulting in a 22.6% success rate.
–Field level media
What does Jalen Washington attribute his recent scoring success to during the game against American?
**Interview with Jalen Washington, standout forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Jalen! What a performance from you and the team last night, securing a decisive 107-55 victory against American. How does it feel to have such an explosive game?
**Jalen Washington:** Thank you for having me! It feels amazing. We put in a lot of work in practice, and it’s great to see it translate into success on the court. That was a total team effort, and I’m just glad I could contribute.
**Editor:** You scored a career-best 18 points, finishing with a perfect shooting record. What were you feeling out there that allowed you to perform so well?
**Jalen Washington:** Honestly, I just tried to stay focused and take the shots that came to me. My teammates did a fantastic job of getting me the ball in good positions, and I just wanted to capitalize on those opportunities. It’s all about enjoying the game and supporting each other.
**Editor:** You guys had a tough loss against Kansas recently. How did the team mentally rebound from that to play such a strong game last night?
**Jalen Washington:** Losing to Kansas was tough for sure. We learned a lot from that game, but we put it behind us and focused on this matchup. Our coaches pushed us to stay positive and improve, and I think that mindset made a big difference.
**Editor:** The second half was particularly impressive, with a great increase in your three-point shooting percentage. What adjustments did the team make after halftime?
**Jalen Washington:** We discussed staying patient and looking for the right shots. In the first half, we rushed some attempts and missed quite a few. We just had to settle down and take what the defense gave us. Once we found our rhythm, it felt like everything clicked.
**Editor:** You had solid contributions from players like Elliot Cadeau, RJ Davis, and Seth Trimble. How important is that depth as the season progresses?
**Jalen Washington:** It’s extremely important. When we have multiple guys stepping up, it keeps the pressure off, and defenses can’t just focus on one or two players. It builds confidence for everyone, and I think that’s going to be crucial as we face tougher opponents down the line.
**Editor:** Any thoughts on what the team is looking to improve on moving forward?
**Jalen Washington:** I think we need to keep working on our defensive consistency. We had a lot of good moments last night, but I know we can be even better. If we sharpen that aspect of our game, we’ll be in a great position as the season rolls on.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Jalen! Best of luck for the rest of the season!
**Jalen Washington:** Thank you! Excited for what’s ahead!