Dayton, Ohio — On Tuesday night at UD Arena, the North Carolina Tar Heels delivered a resounding message to their critics: they belong in the NCAA Tournament. In a First Four matchup, the No. 11-seeded Tar Heels dismantled the No. 11-seeded San Diego State Aztecs 95-68, advancing to the Round of 64 with a performance that blended sharpshooting precision, relentless defense, and a chip on their shoulder.
The Tar Heels, who sneaked into the tournament as the final at-large bid amid widespread skepticism, wasted no time proving their worth. Fifth-year senior guard RJ Davis led the charge, erupting for 26 points on a flawless 6-for-6 from beyond the arc. His buzzer-beating three-pointer to close the first half sent UNC into the locker room with a commanding 47-23 lead, a margin that swelled to as much as 40 points in the second half.
North Carolina’s offensive onslaught was a team effort. Sophomore guard Seth Trimble came off the bench to add 16 points, while forward Ven-Allen Lubin contributed 12 points and muscle in the paint. The Tar Heels shot a blistering 60.9% from the field in the first half, including 7-of-9 from three-point range, and finished the game with 14 made triples—a new program record for an NCAA Tournament game.
Defensively, UNC smothered a San Diego State squad known for its stingy play. The Aztecs, who entered the game ranked among the nation’s best in field goal percentage defense, shot just 39.7% from the floor and 29.6% from three, coughing up 11 turnovers. UNC coach Hubert Davis credited his team’s intensity on that end of the court.
For San Diego State, the loss marked their third straight NCAA Tournament defeat to a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference, following setbacks to UConn in recent years. Guards Nick Boyd and Miles Byrd, both All-Mountain West selections, struggled to find rhythm, combining for just 15 points on 5-of-17 shooting. Center Magoon Gwath, a rim-protecting force when healthy, couldn’t slow UNC’s interior attack.
The game’s outcome carried extra weight for UNC, whose inclusion in the 68-team field sparked debate after a 1-12 record against Quad 1 opponents and a narrow loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals. Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, who chairs the NCAA selection committee, faced scrutiny over the decision, but his Tar Heels left no doubt in Dayton.
With the win, North Carolina (23-13) advances to face No. 6 seed Ole Miss (22-11) on Friday at 4:05 p.m. ET in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the South Region’s first round. The Rebels, who have never met UNC in men’s basketball, will face a Tar Heel squad riding high on confidence and firepower.
For San Diego State (21-10), the season ends with a thud, their vaunted defense unable to keep pace with UNC’s barrage. For the Tar Heels, it’s a chance to keep dancing—and keep proving the doubters wrong.