Though Western Carolina did not make anything easy, UNC led wire-to-wire in a 80-72 win against the Catamounts in the 2026-27 regular season opener at the Dean Smith Center Monday night. It marked the first official game and first official win of head coach Michael Malone’s tenure.
The Tar Heels scored the game’s first 10 points in a hot start, but that was as large as the lead would get until the second half. Western Carolina cut the lead down to three before trailing 39-30 at halftime, then trimmed a 43-30 UNC lead early in the second half all the way down to one point at 58-57 with 9:35 remaining. The Catamounts then missed a layup and a dunk which would have given them the lead and would not get that close again.
Matt Able, who sat out UNC’s final preseason exhibition against Charlotte, led the way with 18 points, while Neo Avdalas and Terrence Brown combined for 27. Jaeden Roberts scored 17 for the Catamounts, but he fouled out with 5:57 remaining. A technical foul combined with a personal foul on WCU’s Tayeshaun Smith less than a minute later gave UNC four consecutive free throws, extending a three-point Tar Heel lead to seven. Those free throws were part of a 12-4 UNC run to push the advantage to 10 points at 74-64 in the final five minutes.
UNC has won 21 consecutive season openers, a streak which dates back to the 2004-05 season. The Tar Heels have also won 24 consecutive home openers, a streak which dates back to the 2001-02 season.
Now 1-0, UNC will be back in action when it hosts Wofford at the Smith Center Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Featured image via Chapel Hill Media Group/Todd Melet
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