After trailing by as many as 21 points in the second half, Boston College rallied to within nine points behind three pointers from Gabe Moton and Patrick Heckmann, but were unable to get any closer as the No. North Carolina Tar Heels pulled away in the final five minutes to win by the score of 83-60.
Ryan Anderson led the Eagles with 13 points and six rebounds in the loss which dropped the team to 5-10 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. Junior guard Matt Humphrey, after being removed from the starting lineup prior to the loss to Rhode Island, played well in his ACC debut, providing 14 points and a much needed veteran presence that steadied the team after a slow start to the first half.
For the Tar Heels, who improved to 14-2 on the season and 1-0 in conference play (11-0 at home), player of the year candidate Harrison Barnes led the way with 25 points including 3-4 from beyond the three point line. Also contributing to the win were forwards John Henson and Tyler Zeller who had 14 and 20 respectively. Kendall Marshall finished with a game high 11 assists.
The game started ominously for Boston College, who were playing with nine freshmen on their roster, and only three players with ACC experience. The Tar Heels jumped out to an 8-2 lead and looked poised to run away with the game in the early moments. But, behind Humphrey and point guard Gabe Moton, who came on in relief of the ineffective Jordan Daniels, the Eagles were able to run off seven straight points to take their first (and only) lead of the game at 9-8. The Tar Heels would reclaim the lead as the half went along, leading by as many as 15 before finishing the half up 40-27.
Henson got Carolina out of the gate quickly in the second half with a pair of baskets to help extend the lead and the Eagles continued to turn the ball over at a very rapid pace, finishing with 19 for the game, seven by the freshman Heckmann. The lead ballooned to 21 within the first four minutes of the half, the largest of the game before Heckmann, Humphrey, and Moton led the team on a 21-9 run, causing Tar Heels coach Roy Williams to call timeout and lash out at his players for their lack of focus. Over the final 16 minutes though, the Heels outscored the Eagles 24-10 to provide the final margin.