Well the upset didn't happen. North Carolina played their first solid game of the season and beat James Madison 80-64, with Armando Bacot's 23 rebounds killing the Dukes. James Madison suffered their first loss.
The Dukes never got on track and fell behind by 19 at the half. Their steal-and-score on fast breaks style didn't work against North Carolina, who is used to a fast pace but made James Madison play in half court where the tight Tar Heels defense—and Bacot's rebounding—shut them down.
A brief 2nd half run put the Dukes within 8 but the motivated Tar Heels extended the lead to double digits quickly and James Madison never threatened again.
It was easily UNC's best effort of the season and James Madison's worst. The Tar Heels hadn't played like a top ten team yet, let alone like the #1 team in the nation, but the Tar Heels exceeded expectations for the first time while James Madison fell short for the first time.
Despite the setback, the Dukes look like a team to keep an eye on come March. And North Carolina showed that when they're facing an opponent they take seriously, they can put their foot on the gas—and play solid defense, too.
The remainder of James Madison's schedule consists of easy competition with no major challenges except for a December 6th game vs. Virginia.
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