Love, Bacot help North Carolina beat Wake Forest 80-73
- Jan. 20, 2021 09:46 PM EST
North Carolina head coach Roy Williams directs his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wake Forest in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
North Carolina head coach Roy Williams directs his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wake Forest in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) drives to the basket while Wake Forest forward Isaiah Mucius (1) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
North Carolina's Caleb Love (2) drives to the basket against Wake Forest's Isaiah Mucius, right front, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
North Carolina coach Roy Williams, left, and Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes talk after an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
North Carolina's Leaky Black, right, defends against Wake Forest's Daivien Williamson (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
North Carolina's Caleb Love (2) drives to the basketagainst Wake Forest's Isaiah Mucius (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
Wake Forest's Ismael Massoud (25) fouls North Carolina's Armando Bacot (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
Wake Forest forward Ismael Massoud and North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) struggle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
North Carolina guard Caleb Love (2) drives to the basket while Wake Forest guard Daivien Williamson defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Caleb Love had a season-high 20 points, Armando Bacot scored 14 of his 18 in the second half, and North Carolina beat Wake Forest 80-73 on Wednesday night.

RJ Davis scored 13 points, Garrison Brooks 10, and Leaky Black added eight points, six rebounds and eight assists for North Carolina (9-5, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference).

Bacot, who made 8 of 10 from the field, hit a jumper to spark a 12-0 run that made it 45-35 and the Tar Heels never again trailed. Wake Forest's Daivien Williamson and Jalen Johnson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make 53-all with 10 minutes to play, but Bacot answered with a layup and his dunk with 4:45 left gave North Carolina a 10-point lead.

Williamson and Isaiah Mucius each scored a career-high 27 points for Wake Forest (3-6, 0-6). Mucius, who went into to the game shooting 16.7% (4 of 24) from 3-point range, made a career-high seven 3s on 12 attempts.

The first half featured nine lead changes and seven ties before the Demon Deacons took a 33-31 lead into the break. North Carolina shot 55% (17 of 31) from the field, made 15 of 21 from the free-throw line, and scored 26 of its 36 points in the paint after halftime.

Wake Forest, which has lost six in a row, shot 39% overall and committed 20 turnovers.

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