No. 22 North Carolina picked up a massive ACC road win on Saturday, doing it in impressive fashion.
The Tar Heels found themselves in a deep hole late in the first half, trailing No. 14 Virginia 43–27. However, a late 7–0 burst before halftime helped UNC steady itself and stay within striking distance. After the break, Hubert Davis’ team delivered a tough, resilient effort, silencing the crowd in Charlottesville and pulling out an 85–80 upset victory.
UNC didn’t regain the lead until nearly 12 minutes remained in the first half, marking its first advantage since the opening basket. Virginia continued to fight back, even moving ahead 74–72 with under four minutes left.
That’s when the momentum completely shifted. North Carolina closed the game on a decisive 9–0 run to build an 81–74 cushion, then sealed the win at the free-throw line. A costly offensive rebound allowed by Virginia with 20 seconds remaining effectively ended the game. The loss drops the Cavaliers to 16–3 overall and 5–2 in ACC play, while the win lifts UNC to 16–4 and 4–3 in conference action.
Caleb Wilson shines for UNC
Freshman standout Caleb Wilson led the way for the Tar Heels.
Wilson poured in 20 points while shooting an efficient 8-of-12 from the floor and secured the decisive offensive rebound in the final seconds that resulted in a key free throw.
Now averaging 19.8 points per game on the season, Wilson has scored at least 17 points in five straight outings, continuing his strong stretch of play.
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