UNC Opens Malone Era With 80-72 Win

North Carolina opened the Michael Malone era with an 80-72 win over Western Carolina, pulling away with a 13-2 run in the final minutes after the Catamounts repeatedly threatened in a close second half. Matt Able, a transfer from NC State, led the Tar Heels with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while freshman forward performance and Neoklis Avdalas’ versatility also stood out. The victory showed promise in UNC’s fast-paced offense, but the Tar Heels struggled from 3-point range and were outrebounded 41-32 despite a size advantage, underscoring areas for improvement.