UNC faces off with local rival Wake Forest

Published November 20, 2014

Salem, NC (Sports Network) - The fifth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels will try to keep up in the Atlantic Coast Conference race as they head to the Lawrence Joel Coliseum for a league bout with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

This will be the 119th meeting in the all-time series. North Carolina holds a 153-65 edge in the rivalry after it won both of last season's contests.

The Tar Heels are 18-3 overall and 5-1 in ACC play after their 93-81 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Sunday. UNC had its best shooting performance from deep of the season as it knocked down 10-of-16 from beyond the arc to win for the 12th time in 13 outings. The victory placed UNC in a three-way tie for first place in the ACC with Duke and Florida State. The Tar Heels are the highest scoring team in the nation as they average 84.9 ppg. UNC has allowed its opponents to net an average of 67.3 ppg.

All-American candidate Harrison Barnes is leading the Tar Heels in scoring with 17.5 ppg. Barnes has been playing very well as of late as he has netted 21.6 ppg on 56 percent shooting from the field in his last three games. Tyler Zeller and John Henson are a nearly impossible forward tandem to match up with. Zeller is second on the team in scoring (14.8) and rebounding (9.3) after he scored 17 points versus Georgia Tech his last time out. Henson is contributing 14.3 ppg and 10.1 rpg. The junior forward has made an impact on the defensive end as he has blocked 18 shots in his last four outings.

Wake Forest enters tonight's game 11-10 overall and 2-5 in ACC play after its 71-60 loss to the Clemson Tigers on Saturday. The Demon Deacons failed to overcome the Tigers 40 percent shooting from beyond the arc despite pulling down a season-high 14 offensive rebounds. Head coach Jeff Bzdelik's team will have to improve on the defensive end if it wants to make a run in the ACC, as it ranks last in the league with an allowed average of 70.0 ppg.

The Demon Deacons are led by the ACC's top scoring duo C.J. Harris and Travis McKie. Harris is ranked third in the conference in scoring with 17.3 ppg and McKie is a very close fifth with an average of 16.3 ppg. McKie is also leading the team in rebounding with an average of 7.1 rpg after his 13-point, 12-rebound performance against Clemson. Harris chipped in 19 points and seven boards in the loss to the Tigers.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/unc-faces-off-with-local-rival-wake-forest