Recap and highlights: Cameron Johnson, Luke Maye help No. 12 North Carolina hand Gonzaga its second straight loss

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Cameron Johnson poured in 25 points and Luke Maye added a double-double as No. 12 North Carolina handed fourth-ranked Gonzaga its second loss in as many games with a 103-90 victory on Saturday at the Dean Smith Center.

Maye finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Johnson made 8 of 12 shots from the floor.

The Tar Heels dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Bulldogs 42-21. UNC also scored 27 second-chance points, while GU had none.

Zach Norvell Jr. led Gonzaga with 21 points, while Josh Perkins added 20 points and eight assists. Rui Hachimura (17) and Brandon Clarke (15) also scored in double figures for the Zags.

It is the first time since February 2014 that Gonzaga has lost two straight games, a span of 168 contests that was the longest streak in NCAA Division I.

UNC finished shooting 54.7 percent overall and 52 percent from 3-point range, while Gonzaga shot 50.8 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from deep.

The Bulldogs return home on Tuesday to take on UT Arlington (6 p.m., KHQ).

Second half

Final – UNC 103, Gonzaga 90: Contest can best be explained by a single stat in this one – second-chance points. UNC has 27, Gonzaaga has none.

2:32 – UNC 99, Gonzaga 87: Bulldogs putting a ton of pressure on UNC in the full court, forcing two straight UNC turnovers. UNC will likely have to get this one done from the free-throw line and by holding on to the ball.

3:47 – UNC 96, Gonzaga 80: Tar Heels go from can’t miss to can’t make with the flip of a switch, or rather GU switching to a zone defense.

UNC up to 12 made 3-pointers, a season high.

Meanwhile, GU still struggling on the boards. Carolina holding a 37-21 advantage on the glass, including 12 offensive rebounds.

Cameron Johnson continuing to pour it in for UNC with 25 points, while Zach Norvell Jr. has 18 for the Zags.

Bulldogs also on the verge of giving up more than 100 points in a game for the first time this season. Creighton scored 92 against GU in the Bulldogs’ other true road game this season.

8:28 – UNC 81, Gonzaga 69: UNC up to 17 turnovers and is becoming more wild by the minute, but a series of GU turnovers and missed 3-pointers have kept the Tar Heels on top.

Cameron Johnson nails a transition 3 for UNC, he’s up to 20 points to lead all scorers.

North Carolina is 4 of 4 from deep this half, while the Zags have hit just 1 of 4 from range.

Rui Hachimura up to 13 points and seven rebounds for GU, while Zach Norvell Jr. has 17.

GU having its way in the paint (40-20), but it’ll need some 3s to start falling to catch up.

11:16 – UNC 72, Gonzaga 62: 7-0 run gets the Bulldogs back to within single figures. Zags getting into their offensive sets quickly and getting some easy buckets because of it.

GU doing a great job on UNC standout Nassir Little, who has just four points ihn 11 minutes.

North Carolina still shooting at a 53.8 percent clip and is keeping a double-digit margin.

Brandon Clarke joins Zach Norvell Jr. and Josh Perkins in double figures for GU with 10 points.

Perkins up to seven assists.

15:06 – UNC 68, Gonzaga 55: Bulldogs come out of the break hot as Rui Hachimura scores five points in the opening minutes of the second half.

Zags putting an ephasis on getting the big man the ball in areas where he dominates.

GU also doing a much better job of limiting UNC’s clean looks.

Luke Maye also having a good start to the seonc half for the Tar Heels. He’s up to 15 points, including being 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.

GU shooting 66.7 percent overall out of the break.

First half

Halftime – UNC 53, Gonzaga 39: Offense not the problem in the first half for the Zags, but they haven’t been able to stop the Tar Heels.

Cameron Johnson leads all scorers with 13 points, while Seventh Woods hits a buzzer-beating jumper to get to 11.

Zach Norvell Jr. with 12 points on 3 of 9 shooting. Rui Hachimura held to a very quiet six points, while Filip Petrusev has seven off the bench.

UNC shooting 57.1 percent from the floor and 38.9 percent from 3-point range, while GU is shooting 45.2 percent overall and 35.7 percent from deep. UNC winning the battle on the boards (22-11) and on second-chance points (11-0).

UNC ends the half hitting five of its last seven shots from the field.

2:58 – UNC 42, Gonzaga 33: North Carolina with an erratic stretch on offense leads to a quick 4-0 run for the Zags, but UNC settles back into a groove for a run of its own.

Jeremy Jones also with a rough start to this one, as the GU post is called for two fouls in as many minutes. Depth has been an issue all season for the Zags, but it’s really being tested tonight.

After going scoreless against Tennessee, GU’s Josh Perkins nets eight points in a 90-second stretch to get GU back to a single-figure deficit.

Zach Norvell Jr. the first Zag into double figures with 10 points, while UNC’s Cameron Johnson leads all players with 13 points, Luke Maye has six boards for the Heels, while Perkins has five Gonzaga assists.

UNC dominating on the boards (19-9) and second-chance points (11-0)

7:13– UNC 29, Gonzaga 18: Big steal and slam from Rui Hachimura gives Gonzaga a little life, but the Heels answer back with their fourth 3-pointer of the game, this one from Kenny Williams.

Zags really trying to get Zach Norvell’s shooting hand hot, but the guard is just 1 of 6 from the floor. More bad news for GU as Brandon Clarke is called for an offensive foul – his second of the game.

Filip Petrusev with seven points to lead Gonzaga, while Williams has nine for the Tar Heels.

11:50– UNC 17, Gonzaga 12: North Carolina starting to look a little more comfortable in the “Dean Dome” after back-to-back 3-pointers.

Gonzaga freshman big Filip Petrusev answers back with a 3 of his own though.

We finally get our first look at UNC freshman phenom Nassir Little, who comes off the bench of the Tar Heels. Little is projected to be a top-four pick in next year’s NBA Draft. He has two points.

Bulldogs not getting the best looks on offense and are shooting just 28.6 percent from the floor.

15:40– Gonzaga 7, UNC 5: Zach Norvell Jr. opens the scoring for Gonzaga, but it took a few tries.

After missing hsi first two 3-pointers, the sophomore connects on a corner triple. He’s up to five points.

Both teams struggling to find their stride on offense. Zags have three early turnovers, while forwards Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura each pick up a foul before the first media timeout.

Gonzaga announces starting lineup

Game preview

Gonzaga roster

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North Carolina roster

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