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Tar Heels mount comeback but fall short at Kansas

Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) yells out after a foul called on North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half of the game inside Allen Fieldhouse Friday, Nov. 8, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) yells out after a foul called on North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half of the game inside Allen Fieldhouse Friday, Nov. 8, 2024.

It didn't even take a full week in the regular season for North Carolina to get its first real test in a top-10 matchup against No. 1 ranked Kansas.

While the first half was something to forget, UNC came back and made it a game before ultimately losing by just three points, 92-89, to the top-ranked team in men's college basketball.

The first half was all Kansas.

UNC was losing the rebound battle and points-in-the-paint battle. RJ Davis, the reigning ACC Player of the Year, shot just 1-for-8 in the half while Kansas was shooting over 60% from the floor as a team.

Elliot Cadeau and Ian Jackson were the only two players at the break with more than one basket. The entire group of the bigs, including Jalen Washington, Jae'Lyn Withers, Ven-Allen Lubin, and Ty Claude, had two or more fouls at the half.

It was truly a tale of two halves. North Carolina came out of the halftime break a completely new team. They slowly chipped away at the 15-point deficit at one period going on a 14-2 run to not only get back into the game but even take a lead.

UNC had a three-point lead late in the second half. But every time UNC tried to pull away, Kansas would answer on both ends.

With one and a half minutes left, Jalen Washington made a layup that put UNC up 89-87. But Kansas quickly tied it and forced a turnover on UNC's next possession. Then Hunter Dickinson made a layup that put Kansas back on top at 91-89.

After a full possession on the next play, Jalen Washington missed a corner three that eventually led to Dickinson getting fouled on the other end and making a free throw to go up three points.

Cadeau dribbled down, looked for Davis, and had no one open before eventually shooting a three that would have tied the game and just barely missed. Seth Trimble led the team with 19 points and four rebounds, while RJ Davis finished 3-for-15 from the field with 16 points.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : Tar Heels mount comeback but fall short at Kansas