UNC survives Western Carolina in closer-than-expected season opener

Story by

Story by
UNC survives Western Carolina in closer-than-expected season opener

Aidan Jensen, Tar Heels Wire · Tar Heels Wire

Mon, November 2, 2026 at 10:01 PM UTC ·

10 min read

About Our Ads

The North Carolina Tar Heels officially began their Michael Malone era on Monday night , welcoming Western Carolina to Chapel Hill for each team's season-opener.

UNC entered with a brand-new roster that including six transfers, four freshmen and just five returners. WCU employed a transfer-heavy lineup, too, with growing pains expected for both teams.

North Carolina struggled pulling away from an undersized Catamounts team throughout, watching their lead cut to one point late in the second half, but did just enough for the win. The Tar Heels delivered Malone a win in his debut , 80-72, allowing fans to breathe sighs of relief after an almost-embarrassing result.

UNC (1-0) held Western to two makes on its last 10 field goals attempts. Leading by just two with six minutes left, North Carolina scored five consecutive points on free throws, a needed stretch that helps it pull away. The Tar Heels made 25 of their 35 attempts from the charity stripe, including 17 in the second half alone.

The Catamounts only have two guys 6'9" or taller, but they out-rebounded UNC 41-32, allowing them to stay within striking distance throughout Monday night. WCU guard Isaiah Manning struggled with just one make in 12 tries, but led all players with eight rebounds.

NC State transfer Matt Able anchored the North Carolina scoring attack with 18 points. Utah transfer Terrence Brown (14), Virginia Tech transfer Neo Avdalas (13) and freshman Maximo Adams (10) all reached double-figures, giving the Tar Heels a balanced scoring attack Malone praised after their preseason opener.

No team is going to play its best basketball in the opener, especially not one with a first-year head coach and 63% of its players from outside the program. UNC did just enough to win Monday night, but it has plenty to clean up.

UNC vs. Western Carolina score

Half	H1	H2	-	Score
Western Carolina	30	42	-	72
UNC	39	41	-	80

UNC vs. Western Carolina live updates, analysis

FINAL: UNC 80, Western Carolina 72

09:33 PM ET, November 2 2026

Monday night was far from pretty inside the Dean Dome, but UNC found a way to get it done. The Tar Heels pulled away from Western Carolina late, winning 80-72 in Michael Malone's regular season coaching debut.

NC State transfer Matt Able (18 points), Utah transfer Terrence Brown (14) and Virginia Tech transfer Neo Avdalas (13) all score in double-figures for North Carolina.

UNC out-rebounded 41-32, with a 13-7 disadvantage on the offensive glass. Tar Heels survive big scoring nights from WCU's Jaxon Prunty (18) and Jaeden Roberts.

Guard play pushes UNC lead to 10 points

09:09 PM ET, November 2 2026

Transfer guards Matt Able and Terrence Brown combined for North Carolina's last. five points. Tar Heels extend lead to 10 points, 74-64, with four minutes left in the game.

UNC lucky to lead despite cold shooting

08:54 PM ET, November 2 2026

North Carolina hasn't made a shot in the last 3:31, allowing Western Carolina to cut right back into tonight's opener. The Tar Heels lead, 64-62, at a media timeout with 6:35 remaining in the second half.

Western Carolina in midst of 22-11 run

08:38 PM ET, November 2 2026

UNC's lead stands at just two points, 54-52, eight minutes into the second half.

Maximo Adams bucket pushes UNC lead back to eight

08:26 PM ET, November 2 2026

North Carolina continues struggling in the rebounding department, but Jarin Stevenson and Maximo Adams are here to play.

This duo has the Tar Heels' last five points, most recently an Adams 3-pointer. UNC leads Western Carolina, 48-40, just 4:40 into the second half.

Catamounts are HOT

08:18 PM ET, November 2 2026

Jaeden Roberts nails a 3-pointer and cuts the Western Carolina gap to 43-38. Catamounts are currently on an 8-0 run.

UNC head coach Michael Malone calls timeout just two minutes into the second half. Tar Heels continue to rebound poorly with their size advantage.

5-star in the house!

08:12 PM ET, November 2 2026

UNC basketball recruit Brady Pettigrew, the class of 2027's 10th-ranked overall recruit, top-ranked combo guard and Illinois player, is in attendance for tonight's season-opener vs. Western Carolina.

Tar Heels defense shines late in first half

08:08 PM ET, November 2 2026

After allowing the Catamounts to hang around most of the first half, UNC held its opponent without a field goal in the final five minutes.

In that same stretch, the Tar Heels scored nine points.

First half difference-makers?

08:04 PM ET, November 2 2026

UNC has a slim, 17-16 advantage on the boards at halftime, but has 16 paint points to Western Carolina's eight.

HALFTIME: UNC 39, Western Carolina 30

08:02 PM ET, November 2 2026

The first half was far from pretty, but North Carolina played solid basketball overall. The Tar Heels have a 39-30 lead over Western Carolina at halftime.

NC State transfer Matt Able has a game-high 10 points, followed by seven each from freshman Maximo Adams and Utah transfer Terrence Brown.

UNC is shooting 45 percent as a team, while holding the Catamounts to a 33% mark.

Sloppy basketball sees UNC lead cut to three points

07:42 PM ET, November 2 2026

The Tar Heels looked well in control of tonight's opener early, but Western Carolina is fighting every punch. A 5-0 Catamouns run cuts North Carolina's lead to 30-27 with five minutes left in the first half.

UNC maintains multi-possession lead at second media timeout

07:22 PM ET, November 2 2026

The Tar Heels carry a 17-9 lead over Western Carolina into the second media timeout. North Carolina guard Angelo Brizzi hit a 3-pointer, Alexandros Samodurov fouled the Catamounts and forced the break in play.

UNC carries 9-point lead into first media timeout

07:11 PM ET, November 2 2026

Behind eight points from Matt Able, UNC storms out to a 12-3 lead over Western Carolina. Only 5:05 off the clock.

Tar Heels jump out to 7-0 lead early

07:07 PM ET, November 2 2026

UNC is controlling Western Carolina in the early minutes of tonight's opener, leading 7-0 and forcing an early timeout.

Terrence Brown scored North Carolina's first two point, while NC State transfer Matt Able has the most recent five.

Jaydon Young honoring family with tonight's game shoes

06:57 PM ET, November 2 2026

UNC guard Jaydon Young, returning for one final season, became a dad in the offseason. He's wearing shoes to honor his new daughter.

First look at Tar Heels in warm-ups

06:53 PM ET, November 2 2026

First starting five of the Michael Malone era

06:50 PM ET, November 2 2026

The Tar Heels will start Terrence Brown, Matt Able, Neoklis Avdalas, Jarin Stevenson and Sayon Keita for their 2026-27 season debut against Western Carolina.

2026-27 Western Carolina basketball roster

02:48 PM ET, November 1 2026

0 – G Jaxon Prunty, Jr.
1 – G Drew Hollifield, Jr.
2 – G Jaeden Roberts, So.
3 – G Jose Martins, Fr.
4 – G Travelle Bryson, Jr.
5 – G Titian DeRosa, So.
6 – G Antonio McKoy, Fr.
7 – G Isaiah Manning, Sr.
8 – F Donovan Raymond, Sr.
9 – G Jake Baker, So.
11 – G Jacob Zhu, Fr.
12 – F Samuel Dada, So.
14 – G Cross Arias, So.
21 – F Tayeshaun Smith, So.
22 – G Malachi Brown, Sr.
23 – F Fola Sodipo, Fr,

2026-27 UNC basketball roster

02:36 PM ET, November 1 2026

1 – G Terrence Brown, Sr.
2 – G Isaiah Denis, So.
3 – G Matt Able, So.
4 – G Jaydon Young, Sr.
5 – G/F Kevin Thomas, Fr.
14 – G Angelo Brizzi, Gr.
15 – F Jarin Stevenson, Sr.
17 – G Neo Avdalas, So.
21 – C Sayon Keita, Fr.
22 – F Alex Samodurov, Jr.
25 – F Maximo Adams, Fr.
30 – G Malloy Smith, Fr.
32 – G Evan Smith, Fr.
35 – C Cade Bennerman, So.
54 – C Cameron Fens, Gr.

UNC Men's Basketball 2026-27 schedule

02:34 PM ET, November 1 2026

October 9: Exhibition vs. USC Trojans in Greensboro, N.C. (W, 88-70)

Oct. 18: Exhibition at Indiana Hoosiers in Indianapolis (L, 76-58)

Oct. 27: Exhibition vs. Charlotte (W, 89-82 in OT)

November 2: Season Opener vs. Western Carolina (7 p.m.)

Nov. 6: vs. Wofford (7 p.m.)

Nov. 10: vs. Wyoming (7 p.m.)

Nov. 13: vs. Georgia (7 p.m.)

Nov. 20: vs. Marshall (9 p.m.)

Nov. 23: vs. Monmouth (8 p.m.)

Nov. 27: Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C. (7 p.m.)

December 1: ACC-SEC Challenge vs. Arkansas (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 6: vs. Butler (3 p.m.)

Dec. 12: at Georgetown (12 p.m.)

Dec. 15: Tobacco Road Classic vs. NC State in Greensboro (7 p.m.)

Dec. 19: CBS Sports Clasic vs. Kentucky in New York, N.Y. (2:30 p.m.)

Dec. 21: vs. The Citadel (8 p.m.)

Dec. 30: vs. Cal (4 p.m.)

January 2, 2027: at Boston College (4 p.m.)

Jan. 5: at Louisville (9 p.m.)

Jan. 9: vs. NC State (12 p.m.)

Jan. 13: at Florida State (7 p.m.)

Jan. 16: vs. Stanford (2:15 p.m.)

Jan. 19: vs. Virginia (9 p.m.)

Jan. 23: at Syracuse (12 p.m.)

Jan. 26: vs. SMU (7 p.m.)

Jan. 30: Nashville (Tenn.) Hoops Showdown vs. Illinois in Bridgestone Arena (6 or 6:30 p.m.)

February 2: at Notre Dame

Feb. 6: vs. Georgia Tech (2:15 p.m.)

Feb. 8: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)

Feb. 13: at Duke (5:30 p.m.)

Feb. 20: at Wake Forest (7 p.m.)

Feb. 22: vs. Miami (7 p.m.)

Feb. 27: at Virginia Tech (7 p.m.)

March 2: at Pitt (9 p.m.)

March 6: vs. Duke (6 or 6:30 p.m.)

UNC vs. Western Carolina injury updates, inactives

02:28 PM ET, November 1 2026

UNC — OUT: C Cameron Fens (ineligible); PROBABLE: G Matt Able (unknown injury), G Isaiah Denis (knee)
WCU — No reported injuries

UNC vs. Western Carolina betting odds, prediction

02:21 PM ET, November 1 2026

UNC 78, WCU 62: The Tar Heels have a golden chance in front of their home crowd on Monday night, welcoming a historically mediocre Western Carolina team. The Catamounts won both their preseason games, though, while North Carolina delivered mixed results across three exhibitions. UNC will start slow, like it typically does against lesser competition. These new-look Tar Heels have a sizable talent advantage and, unlike their 2025-26 squad, depth.

All College Basketball Odds via BetMGM

SPREAD: UNC (-22.5)

TOTAL O/U:155.5

MONEYLINE:UNC (-10000)

How to watch UNC vs. Western Carolina: TV channel, streaming info

02:13 PM ET, November 1 2026

UNC vs. Western Carolinaairs live on the ACC Network and will be streamed on WatchESPN .
Monday, November 2
7 p.m. ET

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC survives Western Carolina in closer-than-expected season opener

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: