CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina survived a nail-biter against Pittsburgh on Saturday, escaping with a crucial 67-66 victory at the Dean E. Smith Center that snapped a two-game losing streak and avenged their Jan. 28 loss to the Panthers.
The win couldn’t have come at a more critical time for the Tar Heels, who have struggled to maintain leads and close out games this season. With just eight regular-season games remaining before the ACC Tournament tips off in less than a month, UNC sits in a precarious seventh place in the conference with a 7-5 record.
Despite being among the ACC’s highest-scoring and fastest-paced teams, the Tar Heels have been plagued by inconsistency. Saturday’s victory, however, showcased a different narrative, largely thanks to a breakout performance from Ven-Allen Lubin.
Lubin, who has averaged fewer than seven points per game this season, exploded for 17 points in what was easily his most impressive showing in Carolina blue. He set the tone early, scoring nine quick points on four consecutive possessions in a remarkable two-minute stretch. Even with foul trouble forcing him to the bench briefly, Lubin’s impact was undeniable as he reached double figures for just the fifth time this season.
RJ Davis led all scorers with 18 points, while Seth Trimble added 15. Point guard Elliot Cadeau made his presence felt despite attempting only three shots, orchestrating the offense with seven assists.
The performance marked a significant improvement from their previous matchup with Pittsburgh two weeks ago, when the Tar Heels posted their lowest-scoring half of the season with just 21 points after halftime. This time, UNC showed renewed confidence following a week-long break.
The Tar Heels have little time to savor the victory, however. They face a quick turnaround, traveling to Littlejohn Coliseum tonight at 7pm to face a Clemson team riding high after their stunning upset of second-ranked Duke.
Carolina is 3-5 on the road, including three straight losses at Wake Forest, Pitt and Duke. Clemson is 12-2 at home, including overtime losses to Memphis and Georgia Tech (triple overtime). The Tigers have played four overtime games this season.
As March approaches, maintaining this momentum will be crucial for North Carolina. Lubin’s emergence as an additional scoring threat, combined with the team’s improved efficiency, could prove vital as the Tar Heels look to make a strong postseason push.
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