Tulane Green Wave at North Carolina Tar Heels

No. 13 UNC shoots nearly 66 percent, routs Tulane 97-73

Luke Maye had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and North Carolina routed Tulane 97-73 on Sunday.

Kenny Williams and Joel Berry II finished with 13 points apiece to help the Tar Heels (8-1) win their third straight.

The defending national champions shot a season-best 65.5 percent and hit nearly 68 percent during their best-shooting half of the season, helping them put this one away by halftime.

"That was the key that (Williams) put on the board: Let this be our best defensive game all year," forward Theo Pinson said. "We knew we had to be locked in defensively, and once we got after them, we had control."

Melvin Frazier scored 27 points and Cameron Reynolds finished with 18 for Tulane (6-2). The Green Wave, who hadn't allowed an opponent to shoot better than 50 percent before this, had no defensive answers in losing twice in three games after starting 5-0.

North Carolina dominated virtually every line on the final box score. The Tar Heels never trailed, built a 45-26 rebounding advantage, scored 62 points in the paint and blocked nine shots to Tulane's one.

BIG PICTURE

"Obviously, they're NCAA champions and today they played like a team that has that pedigree," Dunleavy said. "I was really disappointed ... (and) thought we were further along, that we made more progress."

HIGHLIGHT REEL

At the very least, the Green Wave came up with the play of the day. Frazier blew by Brandon Robinson with a behind-the-back dribble, then took off down the lane and posterized Maye with a vicious tomahawk slam. Though it was pretty, it only pulled Tulane to 23-8 with 12 minutes before halftime.

STAT SHEET

Maye finished with a career-high four blocked shots. It's the junior's third straight game in which he set a career best in at least one stat category. "It's not coaching. It's sweat," coach Roy Williams said. "Luke Maye's been willing to put in an amount of sweat that very few players have ever done."

HE SAID IT

UP NEXT

Tulane: Plays host to Southern on Wednesday.

North Carolina: Plays host to Western Carolina on Wednesday night.

---

More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

How can I watch Tulane vs. North Carolina?

• TV Channel: Tulane at North Carolina 2021 College Basketball, week 4, is broadcasted on ESPN2.
• Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo Free trial.
  Try Vidgo for free.