Carolina rallied from a late deficit and overcame a season-best shooting performance from Boston College to outlast the Eagles 102-96 in overtime at the Smith Center on Saturday afternoon.

The victory came despite Boston College shooting 36-66 (54.5 percent) from the field and 14-24 (58.3 percent) on three-pointers. The 14 made threes were a season high for the Eagles, as was the shooting percentage both on threes and overall. Boston College’s Donald Hand scored a game-high 26 points and made five of his eight three-point attempts, while Dion Brown added 20 on 4-5 shooting on threes before fouling out. Brown came into the day averaging just 6.4 points per game.

“They hit shots because we gave them the rhythm to make shots,” head coach Hubert Davis said after the game. “Our approach defensively was not good… we didn’t play very well defensively at all.”

The hot shooting helped Boston College overcome an early nine-point deficit and close to within 46-45 at halftime. The Eagles then led for much of the second half and took an 87-85 advantage into the final minute. Joshua Beadle then beat the shot clock with a mid-range jumper to give the Eagles a four-point lead at 89-85 with 26 seconds to go, seemingly icing the game.

Carolina saved itself by forcing a five-second violation on a Boston College inbound pass after Seth Trimble made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to two points. Trimble then made the tying basket with 13 seconds to go to force overtime.

“They stepped up, and I was really proud of them for being able to do that in a pressure situation,” Davis said.

Carolina never trailed in the overtime, as R.J. Davis scored seven of his team-high 22 points to help the Tar Heels see the Eagles off. The score was tied at 96-96 with two minutes to go before UNC scored the final six points. Ven-Allen Lubin – who started the game but only played 13:40 due to foul trouble – secured the victory with a blocked shot on one end and a dunk on the other with 28 seconds to go.

Trimble registered his second career double-double in the win, scoring 18 points and grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds while playing nearly 43 of a possible 45 minutes.

“I didn’t even realize I played that much,” Trimble said afterward. “That’s the most minutes I’ve ever played… anywhere.”

Boston College’s 96 points are the most allowed by Carolina in a game since giving up 103 (in four overtimes) to Alabama in 2022. Saturday’s game also marks the sixth time in 21 games this season the Tar Heels have allowed 90 or more points.

“We’re a young team. I get it,” Trimble said. “But we’re too far into the season to not hear what our coaches are preaching and not going out and executing. Maybe we’ve got to open up our ears a little more, clean them or something to hear what they’re saying. Because what they’re telling us, if we execute it, we’ll be more than fine.”

“This group has always found [energy],” Hubert Davis said. “They have found it when they’ve needed it. It’s needed at the jump ball.”

The win is UNC’s first in overtime since the 2022-23 season. It’s also Carolina’s sixth straight against the Eagles. The Tar Heels still have not lost to Boston College under head coach Hubert Davis.

The win improves UNC to 13-8 overall and 6-3 in ACC play. Tar Heels will be back in action when they visit Pittsburgh on Tuesday night at 9 p.m.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet. For a photo gallery of the game, click here.

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