UNC men's basketball completes comeback against No. 18 UCLA, 76-74, in the CBS Sports Classic

NEW YORK — The UNC men's basketball team (7-5, ACC 1-0) defeated No. 18 UCLA (10-2, Big Ten 2-0), 76-74, on Saturday afternoon's CBS Sports Classic in Madison Square Garden, completing its late-game comeback.

Facing the seventh-hardest schedule in the nation, North Carolina finally secured a ranked win, after previously going 0-4 heading into Saturday. The Tar Heels scored 12 more points in the second half compared to the first, helping the team to its first-ever one-possession win over UCLA. 

UNC's offense ebbed and flowed in the first half, falling in and out of scoring droughts. As the Tar Heels turned over the ball 11 times in 20 minutes, the Bruins took advantage, scoring 12 points off the fumbled possessions. 

Propelled by UCLA's Tyler Bilodeau, a 9-0 run out of the gate pushed the Bruins ahead. After failing to score from the field for almost three minutes following first-year forward Drake Powell's opening basket, graduate guard RJ Davis ended UNC's scoring drought with a quick 3-pointer. On the next possession, Davis found first-year guard Ian Jackson on the wing, tying the score, 9-9. 

Both teams traded baskets until UCLA exploded on an 8-0 run with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. As North Carolina turned over the ball and missed free throws, the Tar Heels were also held scoreless from the field for nearly four minutes as UCLA led, 23-15. 

Finally ending North Carolina's offensive silence, Jackson hit a transition three from the wing, decreasing the deficit to 23-18 with eight minutes remaining. Another three minute scoring drought followed. 

UNC's trips to the free throw line — as the Bruins racked up 10 fouls by the four and a half minute mark — combined with an 8-2 run allowed the Tar Heels to creep back into the game and chip away UCLA's lead to 33-27.

But yet again, North Carolina fell into a three-and-a-half minute dry spell, only broken by sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau's and-1 layup in the final minute. 

At the half, the Bruins led the Tar Heels 40-32. Jackson's 11 points led the team at the break, but UNC allowed Bilodeau and Sebastian Mack to combine for 29 points in 20 minutes of action. 

A 13-4 UCLA run by the 12 minute mark of the second half dug North Carolina deeper into a hole, as Bilodeau exploded for 11 of those 13 points out of the break. While UNC struggled to penetrate inside, missed shots from beyond the arc plagued the Tar Heels.

Lapses by the Bruins, including multiple fouls and turnovers, allowed North Carolina to make it a two-point game, 65-63, with 6:28 remaining. As the shot clock winded down, Jackson knocked down a jumper from the line to make it 66-65. 

UNC fought for its life in the final minutes, making it a one-point game, 71-70, with two minutes to go. After junior guard Seth Trimble missed a three, junior forward Jalen Washington grabbed the offensive rebound to slide it into the basket to tie it, 72-72. 

With less than a minute to go, Davis was called for back-to-back fouls — one offensive and one blocking foul — allowing the Bruins to capitalize at the line and make it 74-72. On North Carolina's next possession, he was then sent to the charity stripe, only to go 1-2. 

Trimble forced a turnover along the baseline in UNC territory with 21 seconds remaining to get the ball back. On that possession, Davis was fouled on the floor and sent to the line. This time, he went 2-2.

UNC led 75-74 with 10.3 seconds to go.

As UCLA's Sebastian Mack attempted to drive to the basket, Cadeau held firm, forcing a tough, contested shot that bounced off the rim. Powell grabbed the game-sealing rebound and then was sent to the line with 0.1 seconds to go. 

North Carolina will return to the Dean E. Smith Center to face Campbell on Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. in its final non-conference game of the season. 

@carolinewills03

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