RJ Davis and the North Carolina Tar Heels made a statement Tuesday night, proving they belonged in the NCAA Tournament with a commanding 95-68 victory over San Diego State in the First Four.
Davis led the charge with 26 points, hitting a perfect 6-for-6 from three-point range, tying Caleb Love’s program record for an NCAA Tournament game. His hot shooting helped the Tar Heels bury any doubts about their controversial selection into the tournament. UNC (23-13), which had been scrutinized for its 1-12 record in Quadrant 1 games, played like a team determined to prove itself, overwhelming a San Diego State squad that prided itself on defense.
The Aztecs (21-10) entered the game boasting the nation’s top field goal percentage defense, but they had no answers for North Carolina’s offensive explosion. The Tar Heels shot 61% in the first half and nailed 7-of-9 three-pointers, heading into halftime with a commanding 47-23 lead after Davis drilled a long three just before the buzzer. By the final whistle, UNC had connected on 14 three-pointers—setting a program record for an NCAA Tournament game.
Seth Trimble added 16 points for the Tar Heels, who now advance to face No. 6 seed Mississippi in the South Region on Friday in Milwaukee.
North Carolina’s tournament selection had been heavily debated, with many questioning their inclusion over other bubble teams. However, head coach Hubert Davis and his players embraced the challenge, using the skepticism as fuel.
“We knew what we needed to do,” Davis said postgame. “We didn’t know if we were in or out, but we prepared like we were playing. We practiced on Sunday, before the selection show, and once we got here, even with the flight delays, we got in a really good 40-minute practice.”
That preparation showed as North Carolina put together its most complete performance of the season.
San Diego State had only allowed 80 points in a game once all season—against then-No. 3 Gonzaga in November. But against UNC, the Aztecs’ vaunted defense was shredded.
Nick Boyd and Wayne McKinney III led San Diego State with 12 points each, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with North Carolina’s offensive firepower. The Tar Heels finished the night shooting 52.6% from the field and a blistering 58.3% from beyond the arc.
With the emphatic win, North Carolina moves on to face Mississippi in the Round of 64, carrying newfound momentum into Milwaukee. If Tuesday’s performance was any indication, the Tar Heels won’t just be happy to be in the tournament—they’ll be looking to make a deep run.
