The 11th-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels silenced their skeptics Tuesday night in Dayton with a dominant performance against No. 11 San Diego State in the First Four of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The game, which was held at the UD Arena, started at 9:10 p.m. ET and featured live coverage on truTV, with streaming available on platforms like SlingTV and DirecTV Stream.
The Tar Heels came into this matchup with an overall record of 22-13 and a 13-7 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Their performance during the season raised eyebrows, particularly due to a dismal 1-12 record in Quad 1 games, but they managed to secure an at-large bid to the tournament, despite controversy surrounding their selection over teams like West Virginia or Indiana. Nevertheless, the pressure was on for Head Coach Hubert Davis and his squad as they fought for a chance to join the official 64 first-round squads.
On the other side, San Diego State, with an overall record of 21-9 and a successful 14-6 slate in the Mountain West Conference (MWC), was eager to capitalize on their own at-large bid. Despite their potential, the Aztecs had lost in the quarterfinals of the MWC Tournament to Boise State, signaling that they had much to prove in this opening round.
The game kicked off with North Carolina showcasing its scoring prowess, taking an early lead thanks to stellar shooting performance from guard RJ Davis. He was hot from beyond the arc, making three-pointers that got the crowd buzzing. By the time the first half ended, the Tar Heels led 47-23, all fueled by a combination of strong offensive plays and San Diego State’s struggles, shooting only 26.7% from the field.
The highlights continued as North Carolina surged ahead, boasting a remarkable 55.9% shooting percentage from the field and converting 10 of their 15 three-point attempts throughout the game. RJ Davis, who ended the night with an immaculate performance, went 6-6 from three-point range, setting a record for the most threes in a single NCAA Tournament game for a Tar Heels player. His exploits during the match silenced the doubts surrounding his team’s entry into the tournament.
As the second half unfolded, Davis opened the scoring again with yet another three-pointer, asserting North Carolina’s dominance as they pushed their lead to an incredible 82-42. This marked a striking contrast to the Aztecs, who were unable to find any rhythm, resulting in what could have potentially been their largest margin of defeat under head coach Brian Dutcher; their previous high, a 30-point loss against UConn in last year’s Sweet Sixteen.
North Carolina’s lead ballooned to as high as 30 points, and they maintained an authoritative presence on the court throughout the second half. Ian Jackson capped off a stellar performance for the Heels with a three-pointer nearing the end of the game, bringing the final score to North Carolina 95, San Diego State 68, thus securing their path as the 11th seed in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament.
The outcome of the game seemed like a vindication for the Tar Heels amidst external doubts regarding their tournament entry. RJ Davis thrived under the spotlight, showcasing his talents and proving to be a valuable asset as they gear up for their next challenge, a first-round matchup against No. 6 Ole Miss.
With the stage set and the pressure mounting, the Tar Heels will be keen to capitalize on this momentum as they aim for a longer run in the tournament, potentially rewriting the narrative of their season. Meanwhile, for the Aztecs, the focus will shift to evaluating their performance moving forward and addressing the issues revealed in this matchup.
Of course, the outcome in Dayton serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of March Madness, where anything can happen, and the Cinderella stories are often born from upsets like these. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how both these teams navigate their pathways in the tournament after this pivotal meeting.
