1/5/2019 basketball Edit

Locker Room Report

Cam Johnson and some of the Tar Heels discuss their 25-point victory at Pittsburgh on Saturday. (THI)

Andrew Jones • TarHeelIllustrated

Publisher

Andrew Jones has covered sports for 26 years, including all major college & professional sports for daily newspapers & national sites. He's done radio and TV & is entering his seventh year at THI.

PITTSBURGH – North Carolina used a 27-4 run in the first half to break open a tie game before rolling to an 85-60 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday at the Petersen Events Center.

It was the ACC opener for both teams and was clear the Tar Heels were ready to take their game to another level. Focus, effort, intensity and much of the time execution were all better than in every game this season but perhaps Gonzaga, and the Heels were much better defensively at Pitt than that night three weeks ago.

The Tar Heels limited Pitt to 30.6 percent from the field, including 2-19 (10.5 percent) from 3-point range.

Coby White led UNC with 22 points followed by 17 from Luke Maye and 15 from Cam Johnson.

UNC improved to 11-3 overall and 1-0 in the ACC while Pitt dropped to 10-4 and 0-1.

Here is what a few Tar Heels had to say after the game: