An eventful first 20 minutes in Atlanta had UNC basketball fans wanting to avoid the Peach State indefinitely.

After the Tar Heels scored 12 of the game’s first 16 points, Georgia Tech ripped off a 19-2 run to take a 23-14 lead and send McCamish Pavilion, known affectionately as the “Thrillerdome,” into a frenzy. The Yellow Jackets used red-hot shooting from downtown to key the run, knocking down their first five tries from beyond the arc.

Staring down the program’s third loss in a row to the Jackets, Carolina once again faced a potential turning point in its season. Following the team’s win against Michigan on Wednesday, junior forward Armando Bacot said the team did some “soul-searching” prior to that game. But there was no eight-day layoff for Carolina this time. The Tar Heels needed a quick spark to avoid a blowout.

That’s exactly what happened, as some tough buckets from sophomore guard R.J. Davis helped Carolina to a 10-2 run in the first half’s final minutes. The run did away with the Yellow Jackets’ 29-21 advantage and sent the game into halftime tied at 31-31.

UNC’s positive momentum continued into the second half. After Georgia Tech’s Michael Devoe scored two quick baskets, Carolina exploded for a 29-8 run over the next 10 minutes of game time, flipping a 35-31 deficit into a massive 60-43 lead. Davis’ shooting stroke hadn’t cooled off in the locker rooms, with three three-pointers from the sophomore pushing the Tar Heels to the 17-point advantage. Davis finished with 23 points, his second 20-point outing of the campaign. He is shooting 51.4 percent from three-point range this season.

Davis was one of three Tar Heels to make a three-pointer on the day, along with sophomore guard Caleb Love and graduate forward Brady Manek. All three of those players shot 50 percent or better from downtown: Love finished 3-5, Davis 4-6 and Manek 3-6.

Down low, Bacot showed off his complete offensive game by pouring in 15 points on 7-11 shooting. As a team, Carolina scorched the nets to the tune of 31-55 shooting (56.4 percent), including a blistering 19-29 in the second half. Georgia Tech’s hot first half gave way to a cold second, and the Yellow Jackets finished just 25-54 from the floor.

When the clock hit zero, UNC had earned its first win over Georgia Tech since 2019.

The win moves UNC to 1-0 in ACC play, but Carolina won’t have a chance to move to 2-0 until December 29, when Virginia Tech visits Chapel Hill. After Sunday’s victory, head coach Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels will have six days off for final exams before hosting Elon on Saturday, December 11. A massive matchup with No. 5 UCLA looms large on December 18, sandwiched between home matchups with Furman and Appalachian State before the Christmas holiday.

 

Featured image via 247 Sports

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
This Week in UNC Sports: October 12-18
More and more of UNC's winter sports are beginning their seasons as we hit the middle of October, and "crossover season" is upon us.
'You Want to Win for Him': Michael Malone's Unofficial UNC Welcome is a Hit
UNC head coach Michael Malone drew rave reviews after his Tar Heels beat USC 88-70 in a preseason exhibition Friday night.
UNC Men's Basketball Beats USC in Greensboro Preseason Exhibition
UNC outscored USC 51-31 in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit and beat the Trojans 88-70 in a preseason exhibition in Greensboro.
UNC Men's Basketball vs. USC (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC fans will get their first look at head coach Michael Malone’s Tar Heels Friday night when Carolina takes on USC in a preseason exhibition at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. It’s UNC’s first game of any kind in Greensboro since the 2023 ACC Tournament. If you aren’t making the trip to the game, here’s […]
Breaking Down Michael Malone's Challenge to Jarin Stevenson, UNC's Gentle Giant
Earlier in the offseason, a fellow reporter and I were discussing Tar Heel senior forward Jarin Stevenson. As the team’s only returning starter and one of the only familiar faces fans can latch on to after an offseason of upheaval, he projects to be a key player for UNC in 2026-27. That prominent role, plus […]
Are They Eligible? Keeping Up with UNC's Rece Verhoff, Cameron Fens and Others
Student-athletes across the country are currently embroiled in an eligibility fight against the NCAA. The athletes, who graduated high school in 2022, are seeking a fifth year of eligibility under the NCAA’s new rules. However, the NCAA is countering that the rule only applies to students currently in college from the 2026-27 academic year forward. […]
UNC Men's Basketball Releases 2026-27 ACC Schedule
The ACC revealed the men’s basketball league schedule for the 2026-27 season Wednesday afternoon. UNC’s league games begin Dec. 30 and end March 6. Mark your calendars 📅 pic.twitter.com/BXaZ7OHdJd — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 9, 2026 The Tar Heels will begin conference play by hosting Cal at the Smith Center Wednesday, Dec. 30. Carolina is […]
Michael Malone Announces Full UNC Men's Basketball Coaching Staff
Michael Malone and the UNC men’s basketball program have officially announced the full coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, Malone’s first as head coach of the Tar Heels. Official. pic.twitter.com/KmX5Ct793x — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 3, 2026 The staff features three holdovers from former head coach Hubert Davis’ staff: Sean May and Pat Sullivan will […]
'Something Much Bigger than Myself': Highlights from Michael Malone's Sep. 3 Press Conference
UNC men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone met with the media at the Dean Smith Center Thursday morning. In his comments, Malone addressed eligibility issues around center Cameron Fens, the shifting legal landscape around college sports, his coaching style and more. Read highlights from the press conference, which have been lightly edited for clarity, below: […]
UNC's Cameron Fens Now Ineligible After Tennessee Court Ruling
Cameron Fens, a seven-foot center who transferred to UNC from South Dakota earlier in August, is now ineligible to play for the Tar Heels in the 2026-27 season after ruling from the Tennessee Court of Appeals Wednesday. The court has issued a stay on the injunction granted to several athletes – Fens included – who […]
›