TJ Gibbs — Neil Redmond, USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame Falls To No. 9 North Carolina To Start The Season

Author:
Bryan Driskell
Updated:
Nov 6, 2019 9:03 PM EST
Original:
Nov 6, 2019

Notre Dame battled, but ultimately the Irish could not handle freshman phenom Cole Anthony in a 76-65 season-opening loss to No. 9 North Carolina.

North Carolina jumped out to an early 13-4 lead, but Notre Dame fought back behind the stellar early play of guards TJ Gibbs and Prentiss Hubb. Notre Dame took its first lead after Hubb drilled a triple to put the Irish up 25-23.

The Tar Heels went on a 7-0 run to regain the lead, but Hubb hit another three-pointer with 0:36 left in the half to give the Irish a 31-30 lead heading into the break.

Hubb and Gibbs peached scored 11 points in the opening half, as did Anthony, the five-star freshman and son of former UNLV great Greg Anthony.

Notre Dame and North Carolina traded baskets for the first eight minutes of the second half, but that is when Anthony heated up. After Notre Dame took a 46-43 lead with 13:19 left in the game, the North Carolina freshman took the game over.

Over the next ten minutes, North Carolina went on a 30-13 run to blow the game open. Anthony scored 19 points during that stretch.

Hubb led Notre Dame with 22 points on 8-17 shooting, and Gibbs added 19 points on 6-12 from the floor. Hubb and Gibbs combined to go 14-29, but the rest of the Irish squad shot just 10-39, which included 2-16 from three-point territory.

Notre Dame shot just 35.3-percent from the floor and went 9-31 from deep.

Anthony finished his first career game with 34 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. North Carolina shot 10-32 from the floor in the first half, but the Tar Heels heated up in the second half, going 18-28. Anthony went 8-15 from the floor in the final half.

North Carolina out-rebounded Notre Dame 51-31, which included 14 offensive boards that led to 17 second chance points.

The Irish next play Robert Morris on Saturday (Nov. 9) for its home opener. The game starts at noon.