No. 12 UNC men's late 92-90 comeback pushes Tar Heels past Dayton in Maui Invitational

The No. 12 UNC men’s basketball team (6-1) overcame Dayton (5-1), 92-90, on Monday evening in the Maui Invitational.

Led by graduate guard RJ Davis and junior guard Seth Trimble who combined for 57 points, UNC pulled off the second largest comeback in North Carolina history to secure the 92-90 win over Dayton. After being down as much as 21 points, the Tar Heels answered late to survive the Flyers. 

The Tar Heels struck first with graduate guard RJ Davis knocking down a three-pointer on the opening possession of the game. Flyer’s graduate forward Zed Key responded with six quick points for Dayton. 

Junior guard Seth Trimble connected on back-to-back corner threes and drove to the basket for an additional two to put the Tar Heels up 14-11. 

North Carolina struggled to take care of the ball in the game's opening minutes, committing eight turnovers by the nine minute mark as a team averaging only 7.8 turnovers a game. Dayton capitalized on the turnovers with six fast break points. 

The Flyer’s continued to push the ball, stringing together 11 straight points to give them the largest lead of the half, which forced UNC head coach Hubert Davis to call a timeout as his team faced a 12 point deficit. 

RJ Davis gave the Tar Heels a burst of energy when he converted on a three-point play in the final two minutes of the half. But turnovers continued to plague North Carolina. The Carolina Blue-clad team entered the half down 51-33. 

The Tar Heels started the second half right where they left off with junior forward Jalen Washington turning over the ball on a travel under the hoop. Dayton fired off another three and extended the team's lead to 21. 

Sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau tallied his tenth point of the game on a strong move to the rim,  but picked up his fourth foul on the next play sending him to the bench with almost 17 minutes to go.

Davis and first-year guard Ian Jackson hit back-to-back threes to put the Tar Heels within 14. First-year guard Drake Powell hit a three of his own followed by another Davis three to cap off a 11-3 run for the Tar Heels. 

UNC trailed by eight with 10 minutes left in the game.

Trimble hit his 20th point of the game to close the gap to five. R. Davis followed suit with a layup for his 20th, to cut the Flyers lead to three. 

Dayton responded with a layup but Trimble answered, again, to make it a one possession game. 

With just under two minutes in the game, Davis hit his fourth three to give the Tar Heels their first lead of the half. 

Davis knocked down two foul shots to put North Carolina up by three with 14.2 seconds remaining in the game. 

Dayton fought back with senior forward Nate Santos appearing to tie the game with 5.9 seconds left. After an official review, the shot was called a two and the Flyer’s were forced to foul Davis and send him to the line. 

Davis hit both shots. 

The Tar Heels will take on No. 4 Auburn in the second round of the Maui Invitational, Nov. 26 at 11:00 p.m.. 

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