Sunday Night ACC Hoops

The other white Tyler.

#19 NORTH CAROLINA 87, MARYLAND 76 – Tyler Zeller scored 25 points while freshman Harrison Barnes had 21 to help the 19th-ranked Tar Heels beat Maryland on Sunday night, pulling them into a tie with Duke atop the league.

Leslie McDonald added 15 points off the bench to break out of a slump for the Tar Heels (22-6, 12-2), who led the entire night for their 15th win in 17 games.  Now, a year after a 17-loss season, UNC travels to Florida State on Wednesday night before hosting the Blue Devils on Saturday night in a game that could determine the top seed in the ACC tournament.

“It would mean a great deal,” head coach Roy Williams said of winning the regular season title, “but we better be thinking in terms of Florida State and not be thinking about Duke.”

The Terrapins (18-11, 7-7) could’ve used this win to bolster their NCAA tournament hopes. But while freshman Terrell Stoglin (season-high 28 points) and Jordan Williams (career-high 19 rebounds) turned in strong performances, they got almost no help from their teammates. The rest of the Terrapins combined for 32 points on 11-for-37 shooting.

Zeller made 10 of 16 shots while joining with Henson (10 points, 15 rebounds, seven blocks) to keep plenty of pressure on Williams inside. The Tar Heels also got strong floor games from their starting backcourt of Marshall (10 assists, six rebounds) and Strickland (career-best eight assists).