The University of North Carolina men’s basketball team (9-6, 2-1 ACC) secured a narrow victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-7, 1-2 ACC) with a score of 74-73 on Saturday afternoon. This match marked the third conference game of the season for the Tar Heels, who aimed to recover after a disappointing late-game collapse against Louisville.
Playing in South Bend, the Tar Heels had to navigate the game without their standout junior guard Seth Trimble, who missed his third consecutive game due to an upper body injury. However, sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau delivered a game-winning performance with a last-second three-pointer that clinched the victory for UNC.
First-year guard Ian Jackson ignited the team’s offensive efforts early on, scoring a corner three-pointer that tied the game at 4-4. Graduate guard RJ Davis quickly followed suit, giving UNC a slight edge with a backdoor pass to first-year forward Drake Powell. Davis then demonstrated his skills with a smooth transition jumper, extending the Tar Heels’ lead to 12-9.
Jackson continued to excel, exerting his influence on the game following a turnover by Notre Dame. He delivered an impressive transition dunk, highlighting a 14-2 run for North Carolina where he himself contributed ten points. This surge put the Tar Heels ahead 26-14.
Despite a few setbacks, including back-to-back three-pointers from Notre Dame’s Matt Allocco and Braeden Shrewsberry that narrowed UNC’s lead, the Tar Heels managed to maintain their advantage. Cadeau responded effectively with another deep three-pointer, pushing the lead back to nine points. The Irish made a spirited attempt to close the gap, with star Markus Burton scoring four straight points. However, Jackson’s solid inbound jumper in the closing minutes of the first half helped North Carolina extend their lead to eleven points at one point.
At halftime, the Tar Heels held a confident lead of seven points, bolstered by Jackson’s impressive 17-point performance in the first half.
This victory signifies a crucial bounce-back for UNC, demonstrating their resilience and ability to perform under pressure, even in the absence of a key player. The team’s next steps will be pivotal as they continue to build momentum in the ACC. Fans have reason to remain optimistic as the season progresses, especially with young talents like Jackson and Cadeau stepping up to lead the charge.