Garcia, Love lift North Carolina in 80-63 win over Elon
UNC's Caleb Love breaks out sweet windmill jam
Caleb Love gets free in transition and finishes in style for North Carolina.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- — Dawson Garcia and Caleb Love each scored 22 points and North Carolina pulled away and posted an 80-63 win over Elon on Saturday.
The Tar Heels went to the free throw line 35 times, knocking down 27 (77%) to overcome a 23-for-53 (39%) shooting night from the field.
Elon got off to a strong start and Darius Burford's dunk with 7:24 left in the first half pulled the Phoenix even at 24. North Carolina responded with a quick 7-0 run and closed the half with a 37-29 advantage. Armando Bacot hit two free throws, then followed them with a steal and dunk to spark a second-half run. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Love pushed the lead to 54-37 seven minutes into the second half.
Garcia hit 8 of 10 from the free throw line and grabbed seven rebounds for the Tar Heels (7-2). Love knocked down 4 of 7 from beyond the 3-point arc and collected three steals. R.J. Davis added 11 points.
North Carolina held a 43-28 advantage on the boards, pulling down 33 defensive rebounds and holding Elon (2-8) to just two offensive rebounds.
Hunter McIntosh paced Elon, hitting 4 of 9 from distance and finishing with 16 points. Darius Burford added 12 points and three assists. Elon shot 43% (25 of 58) from the field, but was just 5 of 9 from the free-throw line.
The loss was the seventh straight for the Phoenix.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Bert Smith
- Jeremy Mosier
- Trey Styons
2024-25 Coastal Athletic Association Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 5-1 | - | 15-4 |
| William & Mary | 5-1 | - | 11-8 |
| Towson | 5-1 | - | 10-9 |
| UNC Wilmington | 4-2 | 1 | 14-5 |
| Elon | 4-2 | 1 | 13-6 |
| Delaware | 4-2 | 1 | 11-8 |
| Drexel | 3-3 | 2 | 11-8 |
| Campbell | 3-3 | 2 | 8-11 |
| Monmouth | 3-3 | 2 | 5-14 |
| Hampton | 3-4 | 2.5 | 10-9 |
| Hofstra | 2-4 | 3 | 10-9 |
| Northeastern | 2-4 | 3 | 10-9 |
| Stony Brook | 0-6 | 5 | 4-15 |
| North Carolina A&T | 0-7 | 5.5 | 4-16 |
2024-25 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 8-0 | - | 16-2 |
| Clemson | 8-1 | 0.5 | 16-4 |
| Louisville | 8-1 | 0.5 | 15-5 |
| Wake Forest | 7-1 | 1 | 15-4 |
| SMU | 5-3 | 3 | 14-5 |
| Stanford | 5-3 | 3 | 13-6 |
| North Carolina | 5-3 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Florida State | 4-4 | 4 | 13-6 |
| Pittsburgh | 3-4 | 4.5 | 12-6 |
| California | 3-5 | 5 | 10-9 |
| Syracuse | 3-5 | 5 | 9-10 |
| Virginia Tech | 3-5 | 5 | 8-11 |
| Georgia Tech | 3-6 | 5.5 | 9-11 |
| NC State | 2-5 | 5.5 | 9-9 |
| Notre Dame | 2-5 | 5.5 | 8-10 |
| Virginia | 2-6 | 6 | 9-10 |
| Boston College | 1-7 | 7 | 9-10 |
| Miami | 0-8 | 8 | 4-15 |
Men's College Basketball News