CHAPEL HILL, NC — UNC’s Armando Bacot set two school records, including the program’s all-time rebound mark, and the Tar Heels defeated NC State 80-69 Saturday in Chapel Hill.
But the game was marred by a scary fall and injury to NC State star guard Terquavion Smith, who had to be taken off on a stretcher after suffering neck and elbow injuries on a second-half drive.
Smith was fouled by UNC’s Leaky Black and fell hard to the ground. The game was suspended for about 11 minutes while Smith was attended to by medical staff. He left the court with an apparent plaster cast on his right arm and a towel covering his face.
He was immediately eliminated from the game and taken to the hospital.
“My prayers and thoughts are with Terquavion now,” NC State Coach Kevin Keatts said after the game. He said he didn’t have an update on Smith’s status and was waiting. “It’s a very emotional situation for me at the moment. Of course, the game is very important. I thought our lads fought, but my prayers and thoughts always go to my players at moments like this.”
UNC coach Hubert Davis opened his post-game press conference by discussing Smith.
“He’s just an incredible kid and an incredible player, and you never want to see anyone hurt or get hurt,” Davis said. “My hope and prayer is that he is not hurt and injured. He is a fantastic player and just wanted to talk about him and let you know I didn’t like to see that happen.”
Black was scored a double foul and thrown out of play.
“I know Leaky Black, so I don’t think he would do a dirty play,” Keatts said.
The game took place at 9:45 in the second half. UNC then led 59-49.
“I don’t think he had bad intentions,” NC State’s Casey Morsell said. “I just think there are other ways to play with the ball. Obviously he went upside down and T (Smith) hit hard. It wasn’t necessary, but I don’t think he had bad intentions.”
Davis called Black “a sweet, kind kid” and said Black asked for Smith’s number so he could reach him and make sure he was ok.
Smith was the Wolfpack’s top scorer, entering the game at 19.1 points per game. He had 12 points in 24 minutes before the injury.
Bacot sets records
Bacot, who had 23 points and 18 rebounds, became UNC’s all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles in the win. He surpassed Tyler Hansbrough in rebounds and Billy Cunningham in double-doubles (double-digit points and rebounds in one game).
Hansbrough was present at the game and was on the pitch with Bacot for a brief post-game ceremony. Bacot needed 17 rebounds to beat Hansbrough’s school record of 1,219 career rebounds.
Bacot now has 61 double-doubles in 119 career games, surpassing Cunningham’s 60 mark.
“The greatest feeling as a coach is knowing what a player or team brings to the table each day,” Davis said. “And for Armando, I have that in him. Every day, in training, shooting, playing, you know he’s going to do his best on both ends of the floor.”
“He’s a fantastic player. He’s one of the greatest players in Carolina history. I’m just very, very proud of him.”
RJ Davis led all scorers with 26 points, including 14-to-14 from the free throw line. Davis scored 10 points midway through the first half on a 12-0 UNC run.
The Tar Heels took control of the game early in the second half with an 8-0 run that included six free throws to push the lead to 53-44.
NC State never got closer than six points the rest of the way.
DJ Burns and Jarkel Joiner led the Wolfpack with 18 points each.
UNC was 36 of 39 from the free throw line and set a record for free throw percentage in a game with more than 30 attempts (92.3 percent). North Carolina started the week with more free throw attempts than any other ACC team, and NC State conceded more free throw attempts than any other team in the league.
“I’ve never been involved in a game where a team takes 39 free throws,” said Keatts, whose team made all 12 attempts from the line. “That means we have to be a bit more aggressive.”
