MILWAUKEE — The 11th-seeded University of North Carolina (UNC) men's basketball team bid farewell to their tournament dreams after falling to sixth-seeded Ole Miss, 71-64, in a thrilling first-round matchup of the NCAA Tournament on March 21, 2025. The evening of high stakes unfolded at Fiserv Forum, where the Rebels established an early dominance.
Ole Miss wasted no time in asserting their intentions, jumping out to a quick 11-2 lead just four minutes into the game, forcing UNC head coach Hubert Davis to call an early timeout. The Rebels capitalized on their hot shooting, connecting on 10 of their first 13 attempts, including six three-pointers—much to the frustration of the Tar Heels, who struggled to find their rhythm early on with poor shooting performance of 9-for-26 and a mere 27 percent from beyond the arc in the first half.
By halftime, the discrepancy was glaring, as Ole Miss led 44-26, marking an 18-point deficit for the Tar Heels—their second-largest halftime disadvantage in NCAA Tournament history. "We were lifeless in the first half," said junior guard Seth Trimble, reflecting on the team's lack of energy and joy. "We looked like the group we were a few months ago."
Despite the rocky start, UNC exhibited a fierce determination to rally in the second half, narrowing the gap significantly. They executed an impressive 36-16 run over a stretch of 16:25, closing to within just two points at 66-64 with only 1:09 remaining on the clock. However, Ole Miss guard Sean Pedulla had other plans, scoring the game's last five points to seal the victory for the Rebels.
Pedulla's performance was exceptional, as he finished with a game-high 20 points, along with six rebounds and five assists, illustrating both his scoring ability and playmaking skills. His resurgence came after a Rebels' scoreless drought that extended nearly six minutes, during which time UNC briefly ignited hopes of an upset.
In what marked his final game as a Tar Heel, RJ Davis led UNC with 15 points, concluding an impactful career with a reflective acknowledgment of the team's roller-coaster season: "Battling through the first half... it's hard to pinpoint just one emotion, but we were resilient," he said.
Despite Davis' leadership, no other Tar Heel broke into double figures for scoring, with only forward Ven-Allen Lubin managing to chip in 14 points before fouling out late in the contest. Jalen Washington emerged crucially during the second half, stepping up with a commendable eight points and eight rebounds in just 17 minutes of play. Trimble and fellow freshman Drake Powell combined for 17 points, but it was not enough against the Rebels' relentless onslaught.
Ole Miss, who improved to 23-11 with this victory, effectively utilized their bench, highlighted by Dre Davis' contribution of 15 points and eight rebounds. While the Rebels committed more turnovers than the Tar Heels (14 to 9), they dominated the boards, out-rebounding UNC 40-34, showcasing their physicality.
Simply put, the first half was punctuated by Ole Miss's tenacity, as they leaned on their robust defensive strategies and efficient shooting, which eventually paved the way for their advancement to the South Region second round of the NCAA Tournament.
UNC's season concludes with a disappointing 23-14 record, leaving the Tar Heels reflecting on missed opportunities and the potential of what might have been. Coach Davis expressed both pride and frustration at the spirit his team displayed while acknowledging, "There were only two choices coming out in the second half, either to respond with that same type of fight or get embarrassed. I was really proud of how our guys fought back competitively and got back into the game," he said.
But despite their spirited effort in the final minutes of the game, the Tar Heels could not shake off the weight of a disheartening first half. The transition from an 18-point deficit to a narrow margin ultimately represented a season fraught with challenges, marked by resilience and the pursuit of team chemistry.
Looking ahead, Ole Miss awaits the winner of the matchup between No. 6 seed Iowa State and No. 14 seed Lipscomb, who battled earlier in the day. For the Tar Heels, this loss serves as a painful reminder of their journey in the tournament, epitomizing both the highs and lows of collegiate basketball.
