Kennedy Meeks had 12 points and 12 rebounds to help 19th-ranked North Carolina roll to a 74-50 victory over cold-shooting Clemson in the ACC opener for both teams.
Justin Jackson added 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting and Brice Johnson tallied 10 points and eight rebounds for the Tar Heels (11-3, 1-0 ACC), but it was the defense that played the biggest role in North Carolina's fifth straight win.
The Tar Heels built a lopsided 39-17 halftime lead by limiting the Tigers to a 5-of-28 performance from the field. Clemson (8-5, 0-1) shot a troubling 28.3 percent for the game and was outrebounded by a 49-30 margin.
Jaron Blossomgame, the Tigers' leading scorer on the season, didn't record a point in the first half before finishing with 13 with the outcome already decided. Damarcus Harrison was the lone other Clemson player to finish in double figures with 11 points.
[SportsNetwork.com]
