North Carolina 76-74 UCLA (December 21, 2024) Game Recap

NEW YORK – RJ Davis added the tying score and free throws with 13 seconds left, and North Carolina erased a 16-point deficit for a 76-74 win over No. 18 UCLA at the CBS Sports Classic in Madison on Saturday Square garden.

Davis scored 17 points to give the Tar Heels (7-5) their first lead since the opening minutes. Ian Jackson scored a career-high 24 points. Seth Trimble added 12 and forced a UCLA turnover that set up Davis’ free throws, allowing North Carolina to outscore UCLA 33-15 and shoot 46.8% in the final 12-plus minutes.

Tyler Bilodeau matched his career high with 26 points, but the Bruins (10-2) had their nine-game winning streak halted. Sebastian Mack added 22 for UCLA, which shot 49.1%.

The Tar Heels broke a 72-point tie with 1:32 left on a basket by Jalen Washington. After Bilodeau missed a 3, Mack hit two free throws with 48 seconds left for a 74-72 lead. Davis made a free throw to tie the game, and after Trimble forced a turnover on Dylan Andrews, Davis hit two more for a 75-74 lead.

Takeaways

North Carolina: The Tar Heels endured a season with 18 turnovers.

UCLA: Bilodeau entered the game shooting 35.5% from three and made his first five attempts before missing his game-winning shot.

Key moment

The Bruns were leading 59-45 when Bilodeau was forced to the bench with his fourth foul with 11:45 left. The Tar Heels went on a 20-9 run until Bilodeau returned with 5:15 left, trailing 68-65.

Key statistics

North Carolina made 11 of 35 free throws.

Next

North Carolina hosts Campbell on Dec. 29 in its final non-conference game before ACC play resumes. UCLA will face No. 13 Gonzaga next Saturday at the Los Angeles Clippers’ new home stadium in Inglewood.

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This story has been corrected to show RJ Davis scored 17 points. An earlier version said he was 16.

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