RJ Davis North Carolina UNC Tar Heel Spectacular Magazine
Sports

North Carolina Upsets No. 1 Baylor, Advance to Sweet 16

TyRel Thompson

FORT WORTH, TX — The North Carolina Tar Heels (26-9, 15-5 ACC) win a thriller against the defending champion Baylor Bears (27-7, 4-4 Big 12). The win advances the Tar Heels to the Sweet 16. 

“Everyone was a contributor to this game, everyone bought in,” said UNC guard R.J. Davis. “That’s how we won the game”

Baylor becomes the first number one seed to fall in the NCAA Tournament this year. 

Carolina was playing well together early. They were moving the ball and sharing the sugar. The Tar Heels were up by 10 midway through the first half. 

Sophomore guard R.J. Davis was hot from the 3-point line. He shot 4-6 from deep and had 17 points at halftime. Davis shot 2-15 from 3-point land in his previous three games. His clutch three-point-play with 1:18 left iced the game. He finished with a game-high 30 points. 

“My teammates trusted me,” said Davis. “I felt confident.”

The Tar Heels closed out the first half, with a 13 point lead, shooting 50% from the floor, and 46.2% from 3-point land. Its largest lead in the first half was 15.

Baylor showed its championship toughness, not allowing an easy win for Carolina. Despite an 18-4 run by Carolina, increasing its lead to 25, the Bears showed heart. The Bears went on a 20-4 run with 5:22 left in the second half. The run cut the lead down to single digits. The last time Baylor overcame a 20-point deficit was on November 26th, 2016, against Louisville. 

“Never underestimate the heart of a champion,” said Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew. 

Junior guard Adam Flagler led the way for the Bears. His 27 points kept them in the game, and he was the catalyst during their 20-4 run. 

Senior guard James Akinjo tied the game late in the second half after a three-point-play forcing overtime. 

Carolina wasn’t shaken by Baylor’s momentum at the end of regulation. In overtime, Carolina’s defense was stout. They only allowed one field goal by the Bears. Baylor shot 1-10 in overtime. 

Carolina edged Baylor 93-86 after a hard-fought battle. 

Senior forward Brady Manek continued his impressive season today. He scored 26 points, shooting 61.5% from the floor. 

Junior forward Armando Bacot scored 15 points, and his clutch free throws in overtime extended Carolina’s lead. He had a game-high 16 rebounds. 

The Tar Heels will play in the Sweet 16 on Friday, March 25th, against the winner of UCLA (26-7, 15-5 Pac 12) vs. Saint Mary’s (26-7, 12-3 West Coast).