North Carolina Secures Victory Over Pittsburgh with RJ Davis' Clutch Performance
In a nail-biting showdown, North Carolina emerged victorious over Pittsburgh with a final score of 67-66, thanks to RJ Davis' stellar performance. Davis led the charge with 18 points, closely followed by Ven-Allen Lubin, who contributed 17 points to secure the Tar Heels' much-needed win.
The game was a crucial one for both teams, with North Carolina (14-10, 7-5) coming off a challenging stretch of losses, including a previous defeat against Pittsburgh on Jan. 28. On the other hand, the Panthers (14-9, 5-7) were also struggling, having lost seven of their last nine games.
The defining moment came when Davis sank a jumper, breaking the tie and putting North Carolina ahead 67-66 with just 52 seconds remaining in the second half. This shot marked the 12th lead change in a fiercely contested game, where neither team could maintain a significant advantage.
Despite several missed opportunities at the free-throw line by both teams in the closing moments, Pittsburgh's Jaland Lowe's missed jumper and subsequent follow-up attempts were in vain as time expired, sealing North Carolina's narrow victory.
Throughout the game, the lead constantly shifted, with neither team managing to pull ahead by more than three points in the second half. Seth Trimble also made a significant impact for the Tar Heels, contributing 15 points, while Drake Powell added 10 points to the scoreboard.
On the Pittsburgh side, Cameron Corhen led the scoring with 17 points, closely followed by Lowe, who chipped in with 15 points in a valiant effort for the Panthers.
North Carolina initially built a comfortable lead of 30-19 with five minutes remaining in the first half. However, Pittsburgh mounted a comeback with a 10-0 run, narrowing the gap to 30-29 before heading into halftime with North Carolina holding a slim 35-32 lead.
Looking ahead, North Carolina is set to face Clemson next on Monday, while Pittsburgh will take on SMU on Tuesday in their upcoming matchups.
