WASHINGTON — For the first time in six years, UNC basketball will have a chance to play for an ACC Tournament championship.

Defense and timely offense from RJ Davis and Armando Bacot were the headliners as the fourth-ranked Tar Heels earned a 72-65 against Pittsburgh to secure a spot in Saturday’s title game at Capital One Arena.

UNC (27-6) will play Virginia or NC State at 8:30 p.m. Saturday with hopes of earning its first ACC Tournament title since winning the crown in D.C. in 2016.

In a game that featured nine ties and seven lead changes, the Tar Heels got stops down the stretch and saw their veterans step up in the biggest moments to deliver a victory.

Bacot and Davis combined to score the final 18 points of the game and 31 of UNC's 39 points in the second half. Here’s what else stood out in the Tar Heels' semifinal win against the Panthers (22-11).

RJ Davis, Armando Bacot carry Tar Heels offensively

RJ Davis (26 points) and Armando Bacot (19 points), UNC’s top two scorers and leaders, led the way offensively on a night in which the Tar Heels struggled to find a groove offensively. Tied at 62 with four minutes left, Davis hit a pair of 3-pointers in a two-minute stretch to close the door on Pitt. Davis had 18 points and Bacot had 14 points with 10 rebounds in UNC’s tournament opener against Florida State. It’s clear the veteran duo is hungry for a chance to put up another banner in the Smith Center.

WILL THE TAR HEELS BE A NO. 1 SEED?: UNC basketball playing for ACC Tournament title, possible No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament

TRIMBLE'S ROLE: UNC basketball's Seth Trimble dunks, returns to form for Tar Heels at ACC Tournament

ACC TOURNAMENT SCORES/BRACKET: ACC Tournament, UNC, NC State basketball score updates: Tar Heels, Wolfpack advance

Harrison Ingram, UNC basketball’s defense on Pitt’s Blake Hinson

It was a deja vu moment for UNC’s Harrion Ingram and Pitt’s Blake Hinson. After limiting Hinson to 11 points on 4-of-16 shooting in January as the primary defender, Ingram brought another impressive effort in the postseason matchup. Hinson, who was averaging 22.6 points in the last three games, missed his first seven shots against the Tar Heels and didn’t score until midway through the second half.

UNC’s pace has been great in the ACC Tournament

After scoring a season-high 24 fast-break points against Florida State, UNC had 14 fast-break points against the Panthers. In the last four games, UNC has outscored its opponents 70-27 in transition. UNC coach Hubert Davis has stressed the importance of the Tar Heels’ pace throughout the season, and it’s starting to show at the right time.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: RJ Davis, Armando Bacot lead UNC basketball into ACC Tournament final