Chapel Hill, N.C. — It seemed like a perfect storm was brewing.
North Carolina was coming off a historically poor offensive showing and returning to the confines of the Dean Smith Center, where the Tar Heels have been nearly unbeatable the past two seasons.
Michigan used a blistering start to keep pace early but ultimately couldn’t weather the storm as it joined the long list of Chapel Hill casualties, falling to the No. 13 Tar Heels, 86-71, Wednesday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Moritz Wagner had 20 points and nine rebounds and Charles Matthews scored 12 for the Wolverines (6-2), who fell to 2-6 in road games in the Challenge and came up short in the first meeting between longtime coaches John Beilein and Roy Williams.