TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The North Carolina Tar Heels continue to push themselves toward the NCAA Tournament bubble with another impressive showing, defeating Florida State 96-85 at the Tucker Center on Monday night. This victory marks the fourth consecutive win for the Tar Heels, who seem to have regained their footing after a rocky start to the season.
North Carolina's RJ Davis led the offensive charge with 20 points, followed closely by Seth Trimble, who contributed 17 points. This balanced scoring effort was pivotal, as the Tar Heels had six players tally double-digit points during the game. Their 14-point lead at multiple points throughout the contest illustrated their control on both ends of the court.
Despite facing some foul trouble—Jalen Washington and Ven-Allen Lubin both hitting their fourth fouls within moments of each other—the team managed to withstand Florida State's offensive pushes. Jae'Lyn Withers (11 points), Elliot Cadeau (10 points), Lubin (10 points), and Washington (10 points) helped to underpin the effort, showing the depth of the Tar Heels roster.
The Tar Heels’ dominance on the boards was evident, as they out-rebounded FSU 35-21 and tallied 24 second-chance points to Florida State’s mere 6. This advantage was particularly significant against the Seminoles, who are the fourth-tallest team nationally according to Ken Pomeroy's college basketball database.
Florida State (16-12, 7-10 ACC) struggled, particularly after standout Malique Ewin went down with what appeared to be a right ankle injury late in the second half. Jamir Watkins, who scored 26 points, headlined the Seminoles’ effort, but it wasn’t enough to counteract UNC’s balance and aggressiveness.
The Tar Heels entered the halftime break with a narrow lead of 49-43, capitalizing on FSU's lack of offensive rebounding and sharply increasing their second-chance opportunities. At one point, they exploited the absence of Ewin, who was benched due to foul trouble, resulting in what became pivotal scoring runs.
The synergy witnessed on the court may have been indicative of the Tar Heels finding their rhythm at just the right time. Coach Hubert Davis noted the importance of creating favorable matchups and focusing on athleticism and defensive strategy to offset their size disadvantage.
Next on the schedule for the Tar Heels is Miami, as they look to continue their winning streak at home this coming Saturday. With their recent surge, they stand at 18-11 overall and 11-6 within the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) — just what they needed to put themselves back on the map for NCAA Tournament consideration.
Fans are hopeful, especially after the team's previous rocky stretch, which saw them at risk of not making the postseason altogether. With performances like these, North Carolina appears destined to keep striving for wins as they navigate through the final games of the regular season.
The competition has been relatively favorable to the Tar Heels during this stretch, allowing them to put together some much-needed confidence-building wins prior to their schedule tightening up against stronger opponents. UNC has made it clear they’re attempting to move past their earlier frustrations and look toward potential tournament play with renewed focus.
With only three games left before March Madness and two at home, the Tar Heels have their eyes set on securing their place among this year's NCAA teams. Their momentum carries promise, and every inch gives them hope of securing their spot firmly on the right side of the tournament bubble.
There's cautious optimism brewing among the fanbase, as recent performances have sparked renewed hopes. The Tar Heels are winning when it counts, translating late-season pressure to potential. With the right approach, UNC's NCAA aspirations could soon be reaffirmed.