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North Carolina Tar Heels vs La Salle Explorers December 14th 2024
Looking to win big? The Explorers and Tar Heels face off at 4:00 ET on CW. The Tar Heels are hosting the game at Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 164 points, and North Carolina is favored by -21.5 vs. La Salle.
Explorers vs. Tar Heels Key Information
- Sport: CBB
- Teams: La Salle Explorers at North Carolina Tar Heels
- Where: Chapel Hill at Dean E. Smith Center
- Date: Saturday, December 14th
- Betting Odds NCAR -21.5, LASAL +1370 | NCAR -3901 O/U 164
La Salle Explorers Recent Game/Games
The Explorers fell to 6-4 on the season after an 82-68 road loss to Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. Entering the game as +6.5 point underdogs, La Salle not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.
La Salle trailed 33-29 at halftime and struggled defensively in the 2nd half, allowing 49 points while scoring 39. The game’s total points of 150 fell just under the 152.5 O/U line.
La Salle’s offense struggled from the field, shooting just 36.7% overall and 25% from beyond the arc, hitting 6 of 24 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.7%, but they made up for it at the free-throw line, connecting on 18 of 21 attempts for 85.7%.
Erik Reynolds II led the Explorers with 24 points, shooting 10 of 18 from the field. Xzayvier Brown added 21 points, hitting 3 of 5 threes, while Deuce Jones contributed 19 points. La Salle grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and finished with 9 assists as a team.
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La Salle’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 82 points on 53% shooting from the field. They allowed 26 two-point baskets on 41 attempts, a 63% conversion rate.
From beyond the arc, the Explorers gave up 6 threes on 19 attempts, a 31% shooting percentage. They also sent the opposing team to the line 16 times, where they hit 12 free throws, good for 75%.
- Through their last ten road games, La Salle has an ATS record of just 3-7. However, their overall record was 2-8 while averaging 67 points per game.
- Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Explorers have gone 4-6 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-8.
- Over their last three games, the Explorers have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.
The Tar Heels Can Win If…
North Carolina improved to 5-4 on the season with a 68-65 win over Georgia Tech on Saturday. Despite being -18.5 favorites, the Tar Heels didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 133 fell well short of the 162.5 O/U line.
UNC led 31-30 at halftime and scored 37 points in the 2nd half while allowing 35. Though they got the win, the Tar Heels didn’t dominate as expected.
North Carolina struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 39% from the field and 20.8% from three-point range, hitting only 5 of 24 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 44.1%, but they did convert 81% of their free throws, going 17 for 21.
Lance Terry led the Tar Heels with 22 points, despite shooting 5 for 19 overall and 5 for 13 from beyond the arc. Seth Trimble and Baye Ndongo each added 19 points, with Ndongo also grabbing 12 rebounds. Trimble was efficient, hitting 5 of 6 shots, including his only three-point attempt.
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North Carolina’s defense held their opponent to 65 points on 39% shooting from the field. They allowed 51% shooting on two-pointers, with the other team making 18 of 35 attempts.
From beyond the arc, North Carolina limited their opponent to just 5 made threes on 24 attempts, a 20% shooting performance. The other team also went 17/21 from the free-throw line, hitting 81% of their foul shots, and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds.
- In their last ten games at home, the Tar Heels have a straight up record of 7-3 while going 7-3 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 75 points per game in these contests.
- Going back to their previous three games as the favorite, North Carolina has an ATS mark of 0-3 while going 1-2 straight up.
- In their last five games, the Tar Heels have an over/under record of 2-3 and are 0-5 vs. the spread.
The Lean
For a pick on the point-spread in this Tar Heels vs. Explorers matchup, our bet is to grab the Explorers at +21.5. Even though our projections have the Tar Heels winning 76-69, we see the Explorers as the play on the point-spread.
Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 164 and given that our model is projecting 145 points between the teams, we like the under.
North Carolina Looks to Build Momentum Against La Salle After Week Off
After a challenging stretch of games against power conference opponents, North Carolina returns from a week-long break to face La Salle on Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Tar Heels (5-4) are aiming to use the downtime to regroup and refocus as they work to find consistency this season.
North Carolina’s Reset
Head coach Hubert Davis sees the break as a chance for his team to recharge, both mentally and physically.
“It comes at the perfect time for us to heal so that we can play fast and free and play the best that we can play,” Davis said.
The Tar Heels recently went through a four-game stretch against formidable opponents, including three ranked in the Top 10 (Auburn, Alabama, Kansas), resulting in a 1-3 record. Their last outing, a narrow 68-65 win over Georgia Tech on Dec. 7, offered a glimpse of promise.
In that victory, Seth Trimble scored a team-high 19 points, while RJ Davis added 16. Trimble, averaging 16 points per game, and Davis, at 18.1, remain critical to the Tar Heels’ offensive efforts.
“A win goes a long way for this group and us trying to find ourselves,” Davis said after the Georgia Tech game.
La Salle’s Recent Struggles
La Salle (6-4) enters Saturday’s contest after consecutive losses to Northeastern and Saint Joseph’s. Despite the setbacks, the Explorers have shown flashes of potential, particularly in their backcourt.
Graduate transfer guard Corey McKeithan has emerged as a key contributor, averaging 18.8 points per game—more than 10 points higher than his scoring output last season at Rider. McKeithan also set a personal best with seven rebounds in the loss to Saint Joseph’s.
Freshman Deuce Jones, who scored a season-high 19 points off the bench against the Hawks, has added energy and versatility to the lineup.
“His energy is off the charts,” La Salle coach Fran Dunphy said of Jones. “He needs a little bit more seasoning, a little bit more poise, but I love having him on our team.”
Key Matchups to Watch
- RJ Davis and Seth Trimble vs. Corey McKeithan and Deuce Jones
The backcourt battle will be pivotal, with North Carolina’s experienced duo needing to control the pace against La Salle’s dynamic guards. The Explorers’ guards have shown the ability to score in bursts, and keeping them in check will be critical for the Tar Heels. - Rebounding Battle
North Carolina has struggled on the boards at times, particularly in losses. La Salle’s McKeithan has shown rebounding capability from the guard position, and the Explorers may look to crash the boards as a way to neutralize the Tar Heels’ size advantage. - North Carolina’s Defense vs. La Salle’s Perimeter Shooting
La Salle’s offense thrives on guard play and quick scoring opportunities. North Carolina will need to lock down defensively, particularly on the perimeter, to avoid another close game.
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Historical Context
This will be the fourth meeting between the two programs, with North Carolina holding a 2-1 advantage. Their last matchup came in January 1988 when La Salle’s Lionel Simmons set a Smith Center record for an opposing player with 37 points—a mark that wasn’t matched until Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht did so in November 2023.
La Salle hasn’t beaten an Atlantic Coast Conference team since a victory over Clemson in 1974, adding another layer of urgency for the Explorers.
What’s at Stake
For North Carolina, this game represents an opportunity to reset and build momentum heading into ACC play. The Tar Heels will look to iron out inconsistencies and re-establish their dominance at home after a 19-game nonconference home winning streak was snapped by Alabama.
La Salle, on the other hand, sees this as a chance to make a statement against a storied program. With a scrappy backcourt and nothing to lose, the Explorers will aim to pull off a historic upset.
Prediction
North Carolina’s talent and depth should ultimately prove too much for La Salle, but the Tar Heels will need a focused effort to avoid a letdown. Look for RJ Davis and Seth Trimble to lead the charge in a double-digit victory as the Tar Heels work to find their rhythm ahead of ACC competition.
