HONOLULU — R.J. Davis made a significant impact in the first half, scoring 14 of his total 18 points as the University of North Carolina, ranked 10th, secured a convincing 87-69 victory against Hawaii on Friday evening.

Elliot Cadeau also contributed notably, finishing with 17 points after shooting an impressive 7-for-8. Seth Trimble played a crucial role as well, with 11 of his 13 points coming in the second half, while Ian Jackson rounded out the scoring with 11 points for the Tar Heels, who improved their record to 3-1.

Davis, recognized as an All-American guard, ascended to fourth place on the all-time scoring list at North Carolina, surpassing Sam Perkins with a successful free throw at the 11:59 mark of the first half.

On the other side, Gytis Nemeiksa led the Rainbow Warriors with 16 points, also contributing 10 rebounds. Akira Jacobs was instrumental off the bench, hitting three 3-pointers to finish with 13 points. Additionally, Tanner Christensen and Marcus Green both chipped in with 10 points each as Hawaii’s record moved to 4-1.

North Carolina maintained control throughout the contest, never falling behind and establishing a commanding lead of up to 21 points.

**Key Insights:**

For North Carolina, despite a disadvantage on the boards (40 rebounds to 27), the team exhibited remarkable ball security with only five turnovers. They effectively limited Hawaii to just five points from those turnovers.

Hawaii did manage to put together a late first-half surge, executing a 12-4 run that narrowed the score to 35-32. However, they struggled with their long-range shooting, finishing the game with a mere 8 of 23 from beyond the arc.

**Turning Point:**

Hawaii began the second half strong, cutting North Carolina’s lead to 41-36 with a basket from Christensen just 27 seconds in. Nevertheless, Jalen Washington responded energetically for Carolina, sparking a dominating 19-4 run. The momentum shift culminated with Drake Powell scoring an easy basket, assisted by Washington, which extended the Tar Heels’ lead to 60-40.

**Noteworthy Statistic:**

North Carolina showcased their athleticism in transition, outscoring Hawaii 19-1 in fast-break points, a clear testament to their speed and offensive execution.

**Next Matchups:**

Looking ahead, North Carolina will participate in the Maui Invitational, starting their campaign against Dayton on Monday. Meanwhile, Hawaii will host Division II opponent Hawaii Pacific on Tuesday.