UNC, UCLA Battle for Elite Eight Spot
UNC will attempt to return to the Elite Eight for the first time since its 2017 National Championship season when the No. 8 seeded Tar Heels take on No. 4 seed UCLA.
North Carolina took a tumultuous path through the first weekend of the tournament to reach the 35th Sweet 16 in school history. The Tar Heels routed Marquette in the first round, winning by 32, then appeared poised to do the same to top-seeded Baylor, jumping ahead by 25 points in the second half.
Then the ride got bumpy. Brady Manek was ejected for a flagrant foul when replay showed his elbow made contact with an opposing player’s face. Unlike college football’s targeting rule, the penalty was limited to that game, and he’ll be eligible to play the full game against UCLA.
Baylor rallied following the departure of UNC’s leading scorer and top outside shooter, and things got worse for the Tar Heels when Caleb Love fouled out later in the half, forcing coach Hubert Davis to resort to something he hasn’t done much of in his first season as head coach—go to his bench.
Baylor tied the score and forced overtime, threatening to pull off one of the biggest comebacks in tournament history. The Tar Heels found new life in the extra period, however, and held on to beat the Bears, 93-88.
UCLA had its own first-weekend drama. The Bruins struggled against Akron in the first round before winning by four, 57-53, then cruised past Saint Mary’s, 72-56.
Like UNC, UCLA is one of the nation’s leaders in offensive and defensive efficiency as well as rebounding percentage. The Bruins are led by 6-foot-7 wings Jaime Jaquez and Johnny Juzang.
The winner of this game's path to the Final Four just took an unexpected turn. They'll be facing Cinderella darling Saint Peter's instead of Purdue after the Peacocks sprung the upset in game one.
Your officials: Tony Padilla, Lee Cassell, Courtney Green
Your starters: Leaky Black, Armando Bacot, Caleb Love, RJ Davis, Brady Manek
Leaky Black is on Johnny Juzang, but Juzang doesn't seem to be phased by it like everyone else. He's 3-for-3, knocking down all three with Black right in his face
The under 16 time out doesn't come until 11 minutes are left in the half, so we'll be getting another media time out at the next dead ball. UCLA wiped out an early deficit to lead 18-14. Bruins have hit 6 of their last 7 and are shooting 57.1 percent, 50 percent from three.
UCLA's 6-10 Myles Johnson may need to ice his knees after kneeling in front of the scorer's table for the last five minutes, waiting to come in at the next dead ball
UCLA hits a basket and we have our next media time out, 29 seconds after the first one. 20-14 Bruins.
Interesting to note: After playing uninterrupted for 9 minutes, UCLA brought in three subs at the first time out. UNC--none.
UNC scores to break a four and a half minute drought. At the under 8, it's 22-16 Bruins.
Love made his first shot, a three. He's missed his six shot attempts since.
UNC is going to live or die by the three. Manek & Davis hit to cut it to two. Manek also had a putback dunk. UCLA going to the line after the under 4, leading 26-24.
Puff Johnson misses a shot that would have tied it at the buzzer. At the half, UCLA up 31-28. Bruins went cold down the stretch, allowing UNC to make a run.
Tar Heels dominating the boards to help stay close. UNC has rebounded 8 of its 24 misses (33.3%) and 15 of UCLA's 16 misses (93.8%)
Caleb Love makes two of his first three shots in the half to briefly give UNC the lead. UCLA scores the next four and goes back up by three.
A Bacot foul sends us to the under 16, UCLA up 42-37.
RJ Davis puts UNC back on top. Heels have hit 6-of-9 shots this half to pull back ahead.
Caleb Love goes on a personal scoring streak, hitting from extremely deep on a heat check. The lead goes back and forth, but at the under 12, UCLA is up 52-51
Love is 8-of-11 for 19 points in the second half and keeping UNC in this. At the under 8, it's 58-56 UCLA.
4:16 to go. UNC is back up 61-60.
Held ball takes us to the under four at 3:16. UCLA up 62-61.
Caleb Love three to tie. Caleb Love three to put UNC on top. Final minute. Time out UCLA. Here we go.
67-64 Tar Heels
Bacot scores to put UNC up five. 15.5 left.
On to the eight! UNC wins 73-66.
