Box Score Postgame Interviews  |  Pilots Shoot Well From Beyond The Arc  I  FB Photo Album

PORTLAND, Ore. – The No. 9-ranked and defending NCAA champion North Carolina Tar Heels used a strong second half to pull away from the Portland Pilots in a 102-78 victory in the opening game of the PK80 Invitational's Victory Bracket Thursday afternoon at the Moda Center.

Sophomore guard Franklin Porter led the Pilots (2-2) with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while freshman guard Marcus Shaver Jr. added 17 points and four assists.

The Tar Heels (4-0) were led by Luke Maye's 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Joel Berry II added 18 points.

Portland was within striking distance early, but UNC scored 24 first-half points in the paint and a tip-in by Kenny Williams just before the halftime buzzer made it 48-35 at the break.

The Tar Heels then opened the second half with a 14-0 run to create separation and led by as much as 28 down the stretch.

Freshman guard Malcolm Porter was the third Pilot in double figures with 13 points, while senior center Philipp Hartwich grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

The Pilots made 13-of-28 three-pointers in the game, but shot just 40 percent overall from the field. Portland was 7-for-10 at the foul line. UNC finished at 50 percent overall and 14-of-20 on free throws.

Points in the paint was the difference as the Tar Heels doubled Portland by a 52-26 margin. UNC also had a 17-8 edge in fast break points.

Both teams shared the ball well as North Carolina had 22 assists and Portland finished with 17.

The Pilots made UNC work early as Malcolm Porter's layup on a feed from Shaver Jr. cut the margin to 17-14.

The tournament continues for the Pilots on Friday against the loser of the Arkansas versus Oklahoma game. That Victory Bracket's session 6 will be played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum with North Carolina taking on the winner at 12:30 p.m. and the Pilots against the loser at 3 p.m. Tickets and other PK80 information is available at PKInvitational.com.