UCLA
4-2
North Carolina
6-1
No. 17 UCLA Topped by No. 6 North Carolina, 94-78
November 23, 2018 | Men's Basketball
LAS VEGAS – Kris Wilkes scored a game-high 22 points as No. 17 UCLA fell to No. 6 North Carolina, 94-78, in the consolation game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational at Orleans Arena on Friday afternoon.
Jaylen Hands added 14 points and a season-high nine assists for the Bruins, while freshman Cody Riley registered career highs of 11 points and nine rebounds in a reserve role.
UCLA (4-2) led throughout the first half before North Carolina answered in the second. The lead changed hands seven times after the break before the Tar Heels worked their advantage to a game high with the final score. The Bruins dropped contests versus No. 11 Michigan State and No. 6 North Carolina as part of the invite.
"This is a lesson," said Steve Alford, the Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "I think both of these teams are in thie top 10, top 15. Hopefully we learned a lot of lessons. We go back and we can work and get better on things. We had probably 10 minutes in last night's game and I thought that tonight, our first 20 was really good."
Coby White's 19 points led a balanced attack for the Tar Heels (6-1), who outscored the Bruins by a 53-32 margin in the game's final 20 minutes. North Carolina turned the ball over just once down the stretch.
UCLA was red hot out of the gate, as four Bruins converted on their first seven shot attempts to build a 15-9 lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers by freshman Coby White pulled the Tar Heels back within striking distance at 20-17, but the Bruins scored 12 of the game's next 16 points to establish its largest lead of the game at 11. UCLA made 14 of 27 shots (51.9%) in the first half.
Cameron Johnson drained a 3-pointer to cut the Tar Heels' halftime deficit to 46-41 and the guard led their charge in the second. Johnson scored North Carolina's first nine points and Luke Maye's 3-pointer at 15:58 gave them their first lead at 55-54. A pair of triples by Hands helped slow the Tar Heel momentum, but an 11-0 run gave them the lead for good.
The Bruins return home Wednesday, Nov. 28, when Hawai'i visits Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Pac-12 Networks will provide live television coverage of the nonconference contest, scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip.
