CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WNCN) — Jae’Lyn Withers scored 21 points — all on 3-pointers — and had nine rebounds and Ven-Allen Lubin recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards as North Carolina routed Notre Dame in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Wednesday afternoon.
The fifth-seeded Tar Heels (21-12) won 76-56 over the Fighting Irish (15-18) in the second round of the tournament, which this year is being held at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
North Carolina made nine of 17 3-pointers in the first half, highlighted by Withers, who made five of six. His first three 3-pointers, all in row, helped the Tar Heels build a 17-5 lead in the opening five minutes. Later, he made two more in a 12-0 run that gave the Tar Heels a 37-17 lead. North Carolina led 43-29 at halftime.
Five players scored for the Tar Heels in the first 7 1/2 minutes of the second half as they extended their lead to 58-38. The largest lead was 24 points on two occasions, the second time when Withers made his career-high seventh 3-pointer in 10 attempts.
RJ Davis added 13 points, Elliot Cadeau had 10 assists and Withers grabbed nine rebounds for North Carolina (21-12). The Tar Heels shot 48% and made 13 of 28 3-pointers.
Markus Burton scored 11 points to lead twelfth-seeded Notre Dame.
UNC moves on to play fourth-seeded Wake Forest Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinal round.