UNC’s defense held No. 18 Kentucky to just 8-23 shooting in the second half on its way to a 67-64 win in Lexington Tuesday night. It’s Carolina’s first win at the Wildcats’ Rupp Arena since 2007.
The Wildcats had shot 15-30 overall in the first half despite not making a single three-pointer, but that shooting dried up late in the second half as Kentucky missed 14 of its final 16 shots. Still, UNC found itself trailing 56-50 with 6:09 to go, with the six-point lead matching Kentucky’s largest of the game.
Freshman star Caleb Wilson sparked a 6-0 spurt for UNC with four straight points, and Zayden High provided the tying basket with a fast-break layup. The Tar Heels nosed in front thanks to a three-pointer from Luke Bogavac, but the Wildcats took the lead back, 62-61, with 1:41 remaining. Freshman guard Derek Dixon, who played a career-high 24 minutes, then took matters into his own hands by knocking down a stepback three-pointer, his first of the night. UNC led 64-62.
After Kentucky tied the game on the other end, Dixon called his own number again with a driving layup, giving the Tar Heels a 66-64 lead with 16 seconds to go.
The Wildcats’ Collin Chandler, who had scored on the previous possession, then missed a layup at the rim, and UNC grabbed the rebound. Wilson made one of his two free throws with two seconds left and then intercepted the Wildcats’ desperation inbounds pass to seal the win.
Wilson (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Henri Veesaar (17 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles for Carolina. Bogavac finished with 12 points before fouling out late, and Dixon scored nine off the bench. Powered by Wilson and Veesaar, UNC outrebounded Kentucky 41-30 and scored 22 second-chance points (the Wildcats had five). Kentucky had entered the evening among the nation’s top 5 teams in rebounding. The Wildcats also finished with just one made three-pointer after averaging more than 10 per game to begin the season.
Tuesday’s win is UNC’s first against Kentucky under head coach Hubert Davis’ leadership. Carolina is now 7-1 on the season, and the Tar Heels will be back in action when they return to the Smith Center to host Georgetown Sunday at 5 p.m.
Featured image via Associated Press/James Crisp
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
'I Could Not Be Happier': UNC's Nabarun Dasgupta Wins 'Genius' Grant for Lifesaving Work in Opioid FightUNC researcher Nabarun Dasgupta discusses winning a MacArthur "genius" grant - and the lifesaving research that earned it.
UNC Researcher Earns MacArthur 'Genius' Grant to Support Work Preventing Drug OverdosesNabarun Dasgupta, an epidemiologist and researcher with UNC’s Gillings School of Public Health, is the latest Chapel Hill faculty member to earn a MacArthur Foundation fellowship. The private philanthropic organization announced its 2025 class of MacArthur Fellows on Wednesday, with Dasgupta among 22 people selected for the five-year grants, which come with no conditions. He […]
UNC Completes Investigation, Reinstates Professor After 'No Basis' to Advocacy of Political ViolenceUNC reinstated Professor Dwayne Dixon on Friday after a "robust" review of claims he advocated for politically motivated violence.
UNC Investigates Professor Over Ties to Anti-Racist Group; Rally Held in His SupportAs a UNC professor is on administrative leave for his advocacy of alleged politically-motivated violence, supporters led a rally on Wednesday.
'No Response': UNC's AAUP President on Lack of Transparency from Trustees on Tenure DelayAfter an unexplained delay in the tenure approval for 33 faculty this spring, UNC professors are saying the trustees have lost their trust.
'Let's Not Forget Our Neighbors': UNC Leader Shares Western NC's Needs Amid Helene RecoveryIn western North Carolina, recovery continues from Hurricane Helene last fall. UNC officials are working to harness their resources to help.
UNC Professor Takes Olympics History Class Across the PondMatthew Andrews, a UNC history professor, took a cohort of students to London and Paris this summer as part of his Olympics history course.
Orange County Sheriff, UNC Distinguished Professor Both Recipients of Dogwood AwardsTwo Orange County community members earned a distinguished honor from the North Carolina Attorney General on Wednesday. Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood and W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor for the UNC School of Government Jessie Smith are both recipients of Dogwood Awards, as announced by Attorney General Josh Stein’s office. Given each year to honor North Carolinians […]
From Campus to Space: UNC Professor Building His Own SatelliteAs the nation celebrated the anniversary of the first people landing on the moon recently, space was on many people’s minds. For Andrew Mann, though, it’s a daily topic. The assistant professor in the physics and astronomy department at UNC researches young planets and how they develop Earth-like characteristics with the goal of finding whether […]
Derek Dixon's Late Buckets Lead UNC Men's Basketball Past No. 18 KentuckyUNC’s defense held No. 18 Kentucky to just 8-23 shooting in the second half on its way to a 67-64 win in Lexington Tuesday night. It’s Carolina’s first win at the Wildcats’ Rupp Arena since 2007. HEELS WIN.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/rPZqtKTzFW — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) December 3, 2025 The Wildcats had shot 15-30 overall in […]
›
