Bullock sets career high as UNC prevails
North Carolina got the Dean Dome rocking early against the Maryland Terrapins.
Defensive pestering and a huge game from a team leader were the keys to UNC's win Saturday afternoon.
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Reggie Bullock scored the first eight points of the game and the Tar Heels played with ferocious intensity on the defensive end, clogging passing lanes and protecting the rim.
At 18:34 of the first half, Maryland Head Coach Mark Turgeon had seen enough and called his first time-out.
By the second TV timeout Turgeon had already made a five man substitution and could be seen giving his starters an earful on the bench.
UNC (11-5, 1-2 ACC) came into the game having exercised some demons against Florida State in a 79-72 road win.
The cornerstones for the Tar Heels, James Michael McAdoo and Bullock set a tone that forced their teammates to increase their energy level.
Maryland (14-3, 2-2 ACC), coming off a last second buzzer beater victory at home against North Carolina State, couldn't match North Carolina's pace in the first stanza.
Bullock led the Tar Heels at halftime with 21 points. He finished with 24 points.
The shooting percentages for both teams were similar with Maryland shooting 40 percent while UNC shot 35 percent. The difference, especially in the first half, was Maryland's struggles to get a shot off.
The Terrapins turned the ball over 21 times.
Marcus Paige continued to play with increasing confidence (6 assists, 0 turnovers).
Maryland guard Dez Wells was the leading scorer for his team (21 points) while Alex Len finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
It took Bullock a while to score in the second half, scoring for the first time by hitting a three with 5:42 left to go, but with that basket Bullock set a new personal scoring best while playing on his home court.
UNC and Maryland came into the game tied in team rebounding at 43.2 RPG. Maryland outrebounded UNC by a final margin of 41-39.
Charles Mitchell led Maryland in individual rebounding with 11 rebounds while McAdoo led UNC with 11.
In the second half, North Carolina, as it has often this season, began to sputter on offense getting outscored 32-20 in the second stanza after besting the Terrapins 42-20 in the first half.
In the end, North Carolina was able to hold off Maryland in the second half and finish with a final score of 62-52.
North Carolina advanced their record to 12-5 (2-2 ACC) and Maryland fell to 14-4 (2-3 ACC).
North Carolina's next game will be at home against Georgia Tech on Wednesday Jan. 23 at 9 p.m.