Five-second call against Boston College aides UNC men's basketball in overtime win

Drake Powell extended every inch of his 6-foot-6-inch frame. His height doesn't do it justice. The first-year forward plays much bigger, thanks to his long wingspan and high vertical.

North Carolina trailed Boston College by two with 18.6 seconds to play in regulation. The Tar Heels pressed full court as BC's Chas Kelley III tried to inbound the ball from the baseline for the Eagles.

Powell waved his arms and jumped up and down. It’s not something he practiced. He just used his instincts and athleticism.

“Reading his eyes,” Powell said.

The referee counted. One. Two. No one open. Three. Four. Still nowhere for Kelley to go. The referee blew his whistle and held up five fingers. Powell turned to the bench, clenched his fists and screamed.

That five-second call — and the defensive intensity from Powell and his teammates to force it — swung the late momentum in North Carolina's favor. Junior guard Seth Trimble made a tough left-handed layup to tie the game after the Eagles’ turnover. UNC forced overtime and escaped with a 102-96 victory on Saturday afternoon in the Dean E. Smith Center. 

The Tar Heels entered the day in desperate need of a victory after dropping two consecutive games by one point to Stanford and Wake Forest. Boston College is the second-worst team in the ACC. The Eagles were 1-7 in conference play and riding a five-game losing streak entering the day. UNC was a 19.5-point favorite. It would have been a resume-crippling Quad 4 loss.

“That would have been very bad,” Trimble said. “That’s all I can say.”

For most of the game Saturday, Boston College was getting whatever it wanted on the offensive end. The Eagles shot 55 percent from the field and 58 percent from three, both season highs. 

Graduate guard RJ Davis said the Tar Heels lacked effort, communication and attention to detail. They struggled to defend ball screens and close out on 3-point shooters.

BC's Joshua Beadle made a difficult left-handed baseline floater over Trimble to put Boston College up by four with 26 seconds to play. 

Then, North Carolina flipped the switch defensively.

During stoppages and timeouts down the stretch, the Tar Heels held each other accountable. RJ Davis, sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau and Trimble were vocal in the huddle. Trimble said what he felt was needed, whether it was encouraging or stern. The Beadle shot reminded him of Stanford's Jaylen Blakes’ game-winner a week ago.

When Powell committed a crucial turnover with just under a minute to play, he stayed locked in and found a way to change the game.

Trimble made two free throws to cut the deficit to two. Powell deflected one inbound pass back out of bounds. He then forced the five-second call. After Trimble tied the game, Powell deflected another inbound pass to create a turnover and prevent the Eagles from taking a potential game-winning shot.

“There’s a reason he was on the ball every inbounds possession,” Trimble said. “He’s special in those moments.”

UNC turned it on. Powell made two big plays to help force overtime. And North Carolina won the game. 

But Trimble said the Tar Heels are not bought in on the defensive end on the floor to the extent they need to be. He said they need to “fall in love” with playing defense ahead of big games against Pitt, Duke and Clemson.

“They stepped up, and I was really proud of them,” head coach Hubert Davis said. “For being able to do that in a pressure situation. But all the minutes leading up to that — just disappointed.”

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com