POSTGAME NOTES UNC 78, FLORIDA STATE 70 ROY WILLIAMS COURT AT THE DEAN E. SMITH CENTER, CHAPEL HILL, N.C. FEBRUARY 27, 2021 UNC Scoring Leader: Walker Kessler 20; UNC Rebound Leader: Kessler 8; UNC Assist Leader: Leaky Black 4 Team Records: North Carolina 15-8, 9-5 ACC; Florida State 14-4, 10-3 ACC Carolina Notes • This is the first time in UNC history all four Tar Heels to score in double figures were freshmen (Walker Kessler 20, Kerwin Walton 13, RJ Davis 12, Caleb Love 12). • On four previous occasions, three freshmen were the only Tar Heels to score in double figures. – Loss vs. Boston College, 3/10/2007 in Greensboro in the ACC Tournament (Brandan Wright, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington; Win at Duke 3/4/06 (Tyler Hansbrough, Marcus Ginyard, Bobby Frasor); Loss vs. Iona in NYC 12/27/02 (Rashad McCants, David Noel, Raymond Felton); Loss vs. Kentucky 12/7/02 (McCants, Felton, Sean May) • It was the second time this season UNC trailed by double figures in the second half and won (trailed Miami by 10 and won on 1/5). • Freshmen scored 62 of UNC’s 78 points. It’s the second-most ever in a UNC game by freshmen (73 vs. Louisville on 2/20/21) and third time this season UNC’s freshmen scored 60 or more (61 vs. NC State on 1/23). • UNC trailed 41-29 at the half. The win ties the fifth-largest halftime deficit (12) in a UNC win in Smith Center history. • It was UNC’s largest comeback from a halftime deficit at the Smith Center since Feb. 15, 2006. Georgia Tech led UNC by 13 at the half (55-42), but UNC won, 82-75, behind 40 points from freshman Tyler Hansbrough. • Carolina shot 25 percent from the floor in the first half and 50 percent in the second. • Carolina shot 25.0 percent from the floor in the first half, equaling its lowest percentage in a half this season (also .250 in the first at Virginia). • It was UNC’s third-lowest field goal percentage in a half in the Smith Center (.235 in the second half vs. Maryland on 1/19/2013 and .235 in the second half vs. Akron on 12/14/2003). • This was the first time UNC shot less than 30 percent from the floor in a half in a win since March 5, 2016. UNC shot 28.2 percent in the second half in a win at Duke. • It was the second straight game UNC trailed by double figures at halftime (down 16 to Marquette, 12 vs. Florida State). • Carolina scored 29 first-half points on 50 possessions, a points per possession of .58. That was the second lowest in a half this season (.47 in the first half at Virginia). • In the second half, UNC scored 49 points on 46 possessions (1.07 PPP). • Carolina made a season-high 27 free throws and shot a season-high 90 percent from the line. • Carolina shot 90 percent from the line with at least 30 attempts for the first time since 2/26/2019 vs. Syracuse (34 of 37). • Carolina committed 21 turnovers. This was the third time this season UNC won despite 20 or more turnovers (24 vs. Stanford, 20 at Miami). • Florida State was No. 11 in the AP poll. This was UNC’s first win over a ranked team since beating No. 11 Oregon on 11/29/2019 in The Bahamas. • UNC had lost its previous 10 games against AP-ranked opponents. Tar Heel Player Notes • Walker Kessler had season and game highs in points (20), rebounds (8), offensive rebounds (5), blocks (4) and field goals (9). • Kessler has set or tied his season scoring high in each of the last five games (9 at Virginia, 10 vs. Northeastern, Louisville and Marquette and 20 vs. Florida State). • Davis scored in double figures for the 12th time, Love for the 11th time and Walton scored for the ninth time. • Walton made three 3FGs, the 10th time this season he made three or more. • Davis made two 3FGs for the third straight game (had made a total of two in the previous seven games). • Carolina won despite its four leading scorers this season entering the game combining for just six field goals. • UNC’s bench scored 37 points. In the last four games the bench has scored 40, 40, 37 and 37 points (38.5 per) Roy Williams Notes • Becomes the fourth Division I coach to win 900 games (Mike Krzyzewski 1168, Jim Boeheim 977, Bob Knight 902, Williams 900). • Won his 900th game in fewer games (1,161) and seasons (33) than any coach in college basketball history. • 900-261 overall, 482-160 at UNC • This was Williams’ 500th home game as a college coach. Williams is 443-57 at home (both UNC and Kansas). • Now 242-41 at home at UNC, including 240-40 at the Smith Center. Series Notes • Carolina is 51-15 against the Seminoles, including 41-14 since FSU joined began play in the ACC in 1991-92. • Carolina is 22-4 at home – 19-4 at the Smith Center and 3-0 at Carmichael Auditorium. • The Tar Heels have won the last six in Chapel Hill. • This was the second time in three games (and the only two times in series history) the Tar Heels were unranked and played a ranked FSU team. Last season, the eighth-ranked Seminoles beat UNC, 65-59, in Tallahassee. • Roy Williams is 22-8 against the Seminoles (21-8 at UNC, 1-0 at Kansas). Next Game: Monday, March 1 at Syracuse (7 p.m., ESPN).