UNC basketball comeback attempt falls short in NCAA Tournament against Ole Miss
North Carolina took the court in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a Round of 64 matchup against Chris Beard and No. 6-seeded Ole Miss. Despite being down 18 at the halftime break and 22 at one point in the game, North Carolina made a comeback, cutting the lead to two with just over a minute remaining in the game.
The Tar Heels ended up losing the game 71-64 ending their NCAA Tournament run in the Round of 64.
For Hubert Davis and company, it was a tail that the team has seen far too often this year. The story of getting down big at half, a decisive halftime speech, a furious second-half comeback, and a meltdown in the final two minutes. The same story led to losses against Kansas, Michigan State, Florida, and more this season.
The hot shooting that the team saw in the first game cooled off, and the defensive tenacity that crumbled San Diego State in the First Four was nonexistent in the first half against Ole Miss. The Rebels were getting wide-open shots, quick foul calls, and turnovers that led to a huge lead breaking out.
RJ Davis finished as the team leader in his last collegiate game with 15 points on 6-of-17 shooting. Ven-Allen Lubin was the only other player in double figures with 14 points but was in foul trouble early and often throughout the game. Seth Trimble provided nine points and four rebounds off the bench in his final game.
Jae'Lyn Withers left the second half with an injury, leading to an eight points, eight-rebound game from Jalen Washington off the bench as well.
Now, the head coach Hubert Davis, whose contract was extended in the last month through 2030, needs to transition with his new general manager to the offseason, the transfer portal, and bring some respect back to North Carolina's name heading into the end of 2025.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
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