CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Kennedy Meeks and Nate Britt scored 14 points apiece in the University of North Carolina's 99-49 exhibition men's basketball win over visiting Guilford College Friday night. The Tar Heels, ranked first in USA Today and Associated Press preseason NCAA Division I men's basketball polls, used their superior size and quickness to secure an easy victory over the Division III Quakers.
Guilford's Will Freeman scored the game's opening points on an inside basket, but Britt hit the first of eight Tar Heels' three-pointers a minute later and the Quakers never regained the lead. Theo Pinson scored all 10 of his points, including two three-pointers, in the opening half and Joel Berry netted nine of his 12 points in the frame. A 30-6 edge in interior scoring and a 14-0 fast-break advantage helped North Carolina build a 52-24 halftime lead.
The Tar Heels' superior frontcourt came alive after halftime. The 6-10, 260-pound Meeks scored eight points in the first four-and-half minutes of the second half. His final bucket of the night capped a 14-5 run to start the second half, which was shortly followed by a 17-0 Tar Heels' spurt. North Carolina made nine of its first 11 second-half field goals and 15 of its first 20 shots in the frame. At the other end of the floor, the hosts' size and quickness limited sorely the Quakers' offensive options. Guilford shot 10-of-35 from the floor in the second half, including four-of-15 from three-point range, as it relied heavily on outside shots.
North Carolina's Isaiah Hicks and Kenny Williams both scored 12 points off the bench and combined for 11-for-14 shooting from the floor. North Carolina's reserves outscored Guilford's, 40-16. The Tar Heels held a 47-25 rebounding edge and forced 20 Quakers' turnovers that led to 31 points. Hicks and Brice Johnson (9 points, 3 assists, 3 steals) shared game-high rebounding honors with seven caroms apiece. Meeks added five blocks and five rebounds to his 14 points in 20 minutes.
Guilford's Zachary Houston led Guilford with 14 points, six rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal. Rookie Trevor Mayo chipped in nine points and three steals. Freeman finished with seven points.
Coach Tom Palombo's Quakers play their annual intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday (11/10) before hosting Greensboro College in their official season opener Nov. 17.