NCAA Tournament 2017, North Carolina vs Texas Southern: Highlights, score and recap
The North Carolina Tar Heels look to start another run to the title game with their 2017 NCAA Tournament First Round matchup vs the Texas Southern Tigers
Despite finishing the regular season atop one of the best conferences in college basketball, there were those who questioned the merits of the North Carolina Tar Heels as a No. 1 seed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. But as the two other No. 1s that had previously played were tested early on in their wins, the same couldn’t be said of North Carolina in their First Round matchup against the Texas Southern Tigers on Friday afternoon.
Justin Jackson and the Tar Heels came out firing on the offensive end, as the ACC Player of the Year missed his first 3-point attempt and then seemed to not really be about that life from then on. Texas Southern didn’t have the length and athleticism to get out on him on the perimeter and he kept knocking down triples to push North Carolina out to a massive early-game lead. Going into the half, the Tar Heels held a 52-27 lead and the game was never really in question from there.
Mike Davis’ Texas Southern team never quite, particularly with junior guard Kevin Scott as he kept attacking and finding buckets. However, the Tar Heels were coasting as their starters barely even played in the second half. The reserves were more than enough, too, as they added to the North Carolina lead.
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By the end of the second half, the Heels had their walk-ons on the floor following the final TV timeout. If the goal was to look dominant, North Carolina did that and more to advance to the Second Round, where they’ll face the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Highlights
Texas Southern with the oop! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/23wPByInzj
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2017
Joel Berry puts an exclamation point on the first half for the Tar Heels! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/XJ8ao7zrcU
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2017
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Three Stars
Justin Jackson, UNC – Jackson came out of the gate firing (and making) for the Tar Heels. He couldn’t miss from long range it seemed and, with largely not playing in the second half, still finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Isaiah Hicks, UNC – Along with Jackson, Hicks didn’t see the floor a great deal in the second half. That didn’t stop him from also having a big stat line as he put up 17 points, six rebounds and a block on the afternoon.
Kevin Scott, Texas Southern – The junior guard for the Tigers put forth his best effort without question on Friday. He finished the blowout loss with an impressive 19 points, three assist, five rebounds and a steal.