CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Armando Bacot played in his record 162nd ACC game and No. 7 North Carolina overpowered Notre Dame 84-51 on senior night Tuesday to clinch at least a share of the regular-season conference championship.
The fifth-year player who holds the school’s record for career rebounds and double-doubles checked out to a standing ovation with about three minutes remaining.
“He’s been a great leader for us,” RJ Davis, who also might have played his final game at home, said of Bacot. “He’s been dominant throughout his whole career here, breaking records left and right.”
Scoring his last basket at Smith Center on a 3-pointer, Bacot finished the night with 14 points and five rebounds.
“Armando can shoot the 3, and I’ve told him he can shoot it, I just want him to shoot it at the right time,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “He’s so good around the basket, I don’t want him to go away from dominating points in the paint.”
Davis, a fourth-year senior who has a COVID year of eligibility remaining, had 22 points and six assists. He and Cormac Ryan, who had 14 points, exited the court to applause immediately behind Bacot.
Harrison Ingram added 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Tar Heels (24-6, 16-3).
North Carolina’s fifth straight victory clinched at least a share of the program’s 33rd conference title.
Tae Davis led Notre Dame (12-18, 7-12) with 11 points.
Notre Dame didn’t connect on a field goal in the second half until J.R. Konieczny’s layup at the 13:56 mark. North Carolina led by as many as 38 points.
“Congrats to North Carolina,” Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry said. “It was grown men playing against little boys. We got to get better if we want to get to that level.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.