UNC Shows Grit and Guts in Thrilling 71-70 Win Over Ohio State
Before tipoff against Ohio State, North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis had a message for his team-one rooted in resilience. “The meaning of steadfast,” he told them, “is immovable.”
He wasn’t just tossing out a motivational buzzword. Davis was laying the groundwork for what would become a gritty, back-and-forth battle that tested every ounce of his team’s composure.
Fast forward a few hours, and that message proved prophetic.
This was a game of swings, of highs and lows, and ultimately, of a Tar Heel team that refused to fold when the moment got loudest. Carolina didn’t just survive-they executed, adapted, and delivered when it mattered most.
The Ups: Trimble Returns, Bench Steps Up, Big Men Dominate
Let’s start with the positives, because there were plenty. Seth Trimble was back in the lineup and made his presence felt immediately, dropping 17 points in 36 minutes. His ability to drive the lane and finish through contact gave UNC a steady offensive option all afternoon.
The frontcourt duo of Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar both notched double-doubles, controlling the glass and providing the kind of interior presence Carolina will need as the season wears on. And the bench?
A clean 15-0 advantage over Ohio State’s second unit. That’s the kind of depth that wins games in March.
The Downs: Missed Free Throws and a Vanishing Lead
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Carolina left points at the line, going just 7-for-13 on free throws.
That’s the kind of stat that can haunt you in a one-possession game. And with a 10-point lead and nine minutes to go, the Tar Heels looked poised to coast to a comfortable win.
Instead, the Buckeyes chipped away. In about eight minutes, that double-digit cushion vanished.
Momentum shifted. The game tightened.
And then came the gut punch: with under a minute to play, UNC up by one, John Mobley of Ohio State rose for a three, drew contact, hit the shot, and converted the four-point play. Suddenly, Carolina trailed by three with 48.7 seconds left.
The Response: Calm, Composed, Clutch
This is where things could’ve unraveled. But instead of panic, the Tar Heels turned to poise.
They didn’t force a game-tying three. They didn’t rush.
They trusted their plan.
Trimble, once again, took the reins. He attacked the rim and scored a quick two with 33.6 seconds to go. “We had drawn up a play that could get us a three,” he said postgame, “but we knew we had more than enough time to settle for a quick two, and that’s what I did.”
Timeout, UNC. Down one. Time to dig in.
Chaos, Defense, and a Hustle Play That Changed Everything
Out of the timeout, Carolina went big and athletic on the press. Wilson was put on the inbounder, with Jonathan Powell and Jarin Stevenson covering the wings. That length paid off immediately.
Ohio State inbounded the ball to seven-footer Christoph Tilly, but Wilson and Powell swarmed him. The Buckeyes scrambled.
Mobley got the ball, but was swamped by three defenders and nearly committed a 10-second violation. In desperation, the ball was flung toward midcourt.
That’s when Stevenson made the kind of play that doesn’t show up on every highlight reel, but wins games. He sprinted-full court-to intercept the pass.
Had he hesitated for even a beat, Ohio State likely gets a layup. Instead, Stevenson’s hustle gave Carolina the ball back.
“We wanted positional size this year,” Davis said. “That’s why.”
A Fall, A Dunk, and a Final Defensive Stand
Another timeout. Another play to make.
Once again, the ball went to Trimble. He slipped-literally-but even while going down, he had the awareness to dish the ball to Veesaar, who threw down a dunk to give UNC the lead.
“I didn’t mean to fall,” Trimble admitted, “but that pass was getting there whether I was on my feet or off my feet.”
With 4.4 seconds left, all that stood between Carolina and a win was one stop. Ohio State inbounded in front of their bench.
Mobley got the ball and tried to create space, but Stevenson stayed with him, using his length to contest the shot. It missed.
But the danger wasn’t over. Ohio State grabbed the offensive rebound and went up for a potential game-winner-until Wilson came flying in to block the shot and seal the deal.
Final Minute Masterclass
What Carolina did in the final 45 seconds wasn’t just clutch-it was clinical. They made every right decision.
They executed every possession with purpose. They looked like a team that had been there before, and more importantly, one that knew how to finish.
Sure, the Tar Heels didn’t shoot it great from deep. They struggled from the line. But when it came down to it, they made every play that mattered.
That’s what Davis meant by being “steadfast.” Not perfect.
Not dominant. Just immovable in the face of adversity.
And on this night, that was enough.