CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In an impressive performance on Saturday, backup guard Cade Tyson led the North Carolina Tar Heels to a 93-67 win over La Salle, recording a personal best of 23 points and sinking five three-pointers.
Tyson shot an efficient 9-for-14 from the field, including 5-for-10 from beyond the arc, a notable improvement considering his average of 2.7 points over the first nine games of the season. RJ Davis also contributed significantly with 13 points, while Seth Trimble delivered 10 points, alongside eight rebounds and four assists. Ven-Allen Lubin matched Trimble’s score with 10 points as well, helping North Carolina move to a 6-4 record.
Despite some struggles with their shooting from long range (10-for-31) and at the free-throw line (11-for-23), the Tar Heels showcased an impressive shooting percentage of 54% for the game and shot 58% in the second half.
On the other side, La Salle saw Demetrius Lilley score 16 points and Eric Acker add 13 points off the bench, but the Explorers finished with a shooting percentage of just 36%.
The contest began with La Salle grabbing an 8-2 advantage before North Carolina responded with a strong 16-0 run, taking a commanding 10-point lead with 12 minutes left in the first half. Shortly after, Davis hit a three-pointer, extending the Tar Heels’ lead to 27-16, a margin they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
Midway through the second half, Davis sparked an 8-0 run with three free throws, a layup, and a three-pointer, propelling North Carolina ahead by 23 points with 16 minutes still on the clock. A little later, Tyson added to the lead by scoring a layup and another three-pointer, extending the Tar Heels’ advantage to the day’s highest point at 78-45 with just over eight minutes remaining.
During halftime, the atmosphere was further elevated when new North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick addressed the audience.
Historical context showed that North Carolina now leads its series against La Salle with a 3-1 record, with the last encounter between the two teams taking place in 1988.
Looking ahead, the Tar Heels have several challenging non-conference games scheduled before Christmas, including a matchup against Florida on Tuesday and a game against UCLA on December 21, both set to occur at neutral venues.