North Carolina Uses Big First Half to Defeat Tennessee 100-92

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — RJ Davis scored 27 points while No. 17 North Carolina built a huge lead and then held off a second-half push by No. 10 Tennessee for a 100-92 win on Wednesday night in the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge.

Armando Bacot added 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels (6-1), who dominated the opening 20 minutes to lead by as many as 23 and score 61 points by halftime.

The Volunteers (4-3) flirted with a comeback behind a huge performance from Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht. The 6-foot-6 guard scored 22 of his career-best 37 points after halftime, though he was injured while being fouled on a drive with 1:39 left. He did not return.

Josiah-Jordan James added 20 points for Tennessee, which shot 56% for the game while making 8 of 16 3s after halftime to get back in this one.

Harrison Ingram added 20 points for North Carolina, which made 32 of 38 free throws compared to 13 of 16 for Tennessee.