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Chapel Hill, Orange County

Chapel Hill: UNC beats Western Carolina 80-72 in Malone's debut

Matt Able scored 18. Official sheets from both schools list the same final. The Tar Heels are 1-0.

ConfirmedThe main facts are confirmed by official or first-hand sources.

By Alexandru Stanciu · Published

Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill

File photo: Mx. Granger (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • North Carolina beat Western Carolina 80-72 on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill. Official statistical sheets from both schools list that score. UNC is 1-0. Western Carolina is 0-1.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap, box score and schedule; Western Carolina Athletics box score and schedule
  • UNC led 39-30 at halftime. Western Carolina scored 42 after the break to Carolina's 41.Confirmed by UNC Athletics box score and recap; Western Carolina Athletics box score
  • Both sheets list no lead changes. The UNC recap said Carolina led from start to finish.Confirmed by UNC Athletics box score and recap; Western Carolina Athletics box score
  • Matt Able scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, with 2 threes and 4 of 6 free throws.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap and box score; Western Carolina Athletics box score
  • Terrence Brown scored 14, including 8 of 10 at the line. Neo Avdalas scored 13 and had team highs of 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Maximo Adams scored 10.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap and box score; Western Carolina Athletics box score
  • Jaxon Prunty scored 18 for Western Carolina. Jaeden Roberts scored 17 on 4-of-7 shooting from three and fouled out with 5:57 left, the UNC recap said.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap and box score; Western Carolina Athletics box score
  • Western Carolina outrebounded UNC 41-32 and made 10 threes. The Catamounts shot 20 of 59 from the field (33.9 percent) and 22 of 27 at the line. UNC shot 23 of 55, 9 of 30 from three and 25 of 35 at the line.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap and box score; Western Carolina Athletics box score
  • Trailing 65-62 with 5:25 left, Tayeshaun Smith was called for a foul and a technical, the recap said. Able and Sayon Keita then made free throws for a seven-point lead. Both sheets list that technical on Smith.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap and box score; Western Carolina Athletics box score
  • A Brown three-point play made it 72-64 with 4:44 left, the recap said. An Able layup 24 seconds later made it 74-64.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap
  • Official attendance was 15,735 at the Dean Smith Center.Confirmed by UNC Athletics box score; Western Carolina Athletics box score
  • The UNC recap said this was Michael Malone's first official game as head coach and that athletic director Steve Newmark presented him with a ceremonial game ball afterward.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap
  • North Carolina hosts Wofford on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Smith Center, on ACC Network. Western Carolina lists UNC Asheville on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 5:30 p.m.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap and schedule; Western Carolina Athletics schedule

What happened

In Chapel Hill, North Carolina beat Western Carolina 80-72 on Monday night in Michael Malone's first official game as coach.

The school's recap, statistical sheet and schedule all list that final. Western Carolina's sheet and calendar list the same 80-72 score. UNC is 1-0. The Catamounts are 0-1.

Carolina led 39-30 at the break. The two official sheets show no changes of the lead. UNC's write-up said Carolina was ahead from the opening minutes through the end.

Who scored

Matt Able led UNC with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 2 threes.

Terrence Brown scored 14, 8 of them from the stripe. Neo Avdalas had 13 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Maximo Adams added 10.

Jaxon Prunty scored 18 for Western Carolina. Jaeden Roberts had 17, with 4 of 7 threes, and fouled out with 5:57 left, UNC wrote.

The visitors held a 41-32 rebound edge and made 10 threes while shooting 20 of 59. Carolina shot 23 of 55 and 25 of 35 free throws. Official attendance was 15,735.

How it stayed close

According to that recap, the Catamounts cut the gap to 30-27 late in the first half, then to 48-47 with about 14 minutes left.

Trailing 65-62 with 5:25 to play, Tayeshaun Smith was called for a foul and a technical. Able and Sayon Keita made the free throws that followed, UNC wrote. Both statistical sheets record that technical on Smith.

A Brown three-point play made it 72-64 with 4:44 left. Able's layup 24 seconds later made it 74-64.

The Daily Tar Heel independently printed the 80-72 score.

Steve Newmark, the athletic director, presented Malone with a ceremonial game ball afterward.

What's next

UNC hosts Wofford on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Smith Center, on ACC Network, according to the team's schedule. Western Carolina lists UNC Asheville on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Related coverage

Photos

Text-only. No UNC, Western Carolina, or newspaper photographs are used here.

Why it matters

Monday was UNC's regular-season opener and Malone's first official game as the Tar Heels' coach.

Sources

  1. Able Scores 18 As Men's Basketball Tops Western Carolina, 80-72 (UNC Athletics recap, Matt Bowers, Nov. 2, 2026: 80-72 at the Smith Center; Malone's first official game; Able 18; Brown 14, 8 of 10 free throws; Avdalas 13, 7 rebounds, 4 assists; Adams 10; Prunty 18; Roberts 17, 4 of 7 threes, fouled out 5:57; led start to finish; 39-30 half; 12-3 early; 30-27 with 4:59 left in the first half; 43-30 then 8-0 to 43-38; 48-47 with 14 minutes left; 65-62 with 5:25, Smith foul and technical, Able and Keita free throws; Brown three-point play 72-64 at 4:44; Able layup 74-64; WCU 41-32 rebounds, 10 threes, 33.9 percent; UNC 25 of 35 at the line; next vs Wofford, Friday, 7 p.m.)

    Official sourcePublished by UNC Athletics · Checked Nov 2, 2026, 9:48 PM

  2. Men's Basketball vs Western Caro. on 11/02/26, box score (North Carolina 80, Western Carolina 72; first half 39-30; Able 18; Brown 14; Avdalas 13, 7 rebounds, 4 assists; Adams 10; Prunty 18; Roberts 17; WCU 20-59 FG, 10-24 3PT, 22-27 FT, 41 rebounds; UNC 23-55, 9-30, 25-35, 32 rebounds; 0 lead changes; technical Smith; attendance 15,735; Dean Smith Center)

    Official sourcePublished by UNC Athletics · Checked Nov 2, 2026, 9:48 PM

  3. 2026-27 Men's Basketball Schedule (Western Carolina W, 80-72, Nov. 2, 7 p.m., Smith Center, ACC Network; overall 1-0; Wofford, Friday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m., Smith Center, ACC Network)

    Official sourcePublished by UNC Athletics · Checked Nov 2, 2026, 9:48 PM

  4. Men's Basketball vs North Carolina on 11/2/2026, box score (Western Carolina 72, North Carolina 80; first half 30-39; Prunty 18; Roberts 17; Able 18; Brown 14; Avdalas 13; attendance 15,735; 0 lead changes; technical Smith)

    Official sourcePublished by Western Carolina Athletics · Checked Nov 2, 2026, 9:48 PM

  5. 2026-27 Men's Basketball Schedule (at North Carolina L, 72-80, Nov. 2, 7 p.m., Chapel Hill; overall 0-1; at UNC Asheville, Saturday, Nov. 7, 5:30 p.m.)

    Official sourcePublished by Western Carolina Athletics · Checked Nov 2, 2026, 9:48 PM

  6. North Carolina men’s basketball take down Western Carolina in season opener, 80-72 (The Daily Tar Heel, Colby Cotrone, Nov. 2, 2026: UNC 80-72; 1-0 and 0-1; Able eight in a row early; 39-30 half; 48-47 with 14:11 left; Brown and-1 and Able layup to 74-64. Text-only; no newspaper photos used.)

    Published by The Daily Tar Heel · Checked Nov 2, 2026, 9:48 PM

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