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Veteran Big Man Powers UNC Basketball to Another Promising Win

The UNC basketball squad is 3-1 since Jae'Lyn Withers returned to the starting lineup.
Matt Giles|
UNC basketball players James Brown and Jae'Lyn Withers
UNC basketball players James Brown and Jae'Lyn Withers | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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North Carolina Tar Heels

By posting an 81-66 home victory over the Virginia Cavaliers in the Dean E. Smith Center on Saturday, Hubert Davis and his fourth UNC basketball team capped off its first three-game winning streak since reeling off four in a row in the first half of January.

ALSO READ: Mock Draft Has Two UNC Rookies Just Outside First Round

And the Tar Heels (17-11, 10-6 ACC) improved to 3-1 since Davis decided to put graduate forward Jae'Lyn Withers, a starter in the first seven games of his second campaign in Chapel Hill after transferring from Louisville, back in the starting five.

Averaging 5.3 points and 3.6 rebounds entering Saturday's matchup versus Virginia, the 6-foot-9, 220-pound Withers tallied 16 points, 11 boards, one assist, and one block across his 29 minutes on the floor. The effort marked his second double-double this season and fifth as a Tar Heel.

He shot 5-for-8 from the field, 4-for-6 from three, and 2-for-3 at the foul line.

Between his past three performances, Withers is averaging 14.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per game, shooting 9-for-14 beyond the arc (64.3 percent) in that stretch.

Perhaps the 24-year-old from Charlotte, N.C., will continue to emerge as the consistent frontcourt force that Davis' 2024-25 UNC basketball collection has sorely needed.

Withers and the Tar Heels next face a road battle against the Florida State Seminoles (16-11, 7-9 ACC) at 7 p.m. ET Monday (ESPN).

ALSO READ: Top-Ranked In-State Recruit Draws More UNC Attention

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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