CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Sporting Alert) — Marcus Paige came up with an important late block and No. 14 North Carolina held off a late surge from Notre Dame to win their ACC clash 63-61 at Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill on Monday night.
James Michael McAdoo led the Tar Heels (23-7, 13-4 ACC) with 14 points and nine rebounds, while J.P. Tokoto added 11 points and six boards in the victory.
Leading by two with only seconds left, Paige came up with his late block off Eric Atkins’ driving shot on the final play of the game to help secure the win for North Carolina, which picked up their 12th successive victory on the night.
Atkins, meanwhile, led all scoring with 21 points for the Fighting Irish (15-16, 6-12 ACC), which outscored the Tar Heels 34-22 in the second half.
Pat Connaughton had 17 points and 13 rebounds in the defeat for Notre Dame, which dropped their second successive and fourth in the last five outings.
