By SAM LANCE
LAWRENCE, KS — After a half of play, it seemed like Kansas was well on its way to a dominating win over No. 9 North Carolina. But no 15-point halftime lead is safe when you’re talking about a game between these two schools. Just look to the 2022 national championship game.
Despite the marvelous comeback by the Tar Heels, Kansas was still able to hang on and win 92-89 due to the play of Zeke Mayo and Hunter Dickinson down the stretch. Those two combined for Kansas’s last nine points and each scored 20+ for the game.
Elliot Cadeau had a final look at the basket, but was not able to make the 3-point attempt.
“Even though we didn’t play our best, we found a way to win, which was a big positive,” Bill Self said postgame. “I think it was a good game for both programs.”
Bill Self is now 5-0 vs. @UNC_Basketball https://t.co/1d6InOQWQB
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) November 9, 2024
The other Kansas players in double-figures included KJ Adams (14 points), AJ Storr (13 points) and Dajuan Harris (10 points). North Carolina’s guard trio of RJ Davis, Seth Trimble and Cadeau all finished with double-digit points, but shot a combined 10-of-36 (27.8%) from the field.
Kansas committed just four turnovers in the game. It also outscored North Carolina 50-32 in the paint. The Tar Heels stayed in the game with free throws, hitting 28-of-31 shots from the stripe. Kansas attempted just 17 free throws.
North Carolina allowed Kansas to 53 points in the first period, the most the Tar Heels have allowed since 2016 in a first half. The Jayhawks’ 1.514 points per possession in the first half was a higher mark than any full game from Kansas last season.
The Tar Heels came out swinging to start the second half, spurting off on a 15-6 run to open the period and bring the score within six points at 59-53. However, Kansas scored two quick buckets off turnovers to extend the lead back to nine with 14:37 to play.
UNC took its first lead since the 15-minute mark in the first half with a Jae’Lyn Withers layup to make it 80-79. From there, the two teams battled down the stretch, and Kansas was able to come out on top.
With the win, Kansas coach Bill Self has tied legendary Kansas coach Phog Allen with the most wins in program history (590). Kansas is also now up in the all-time series vs. North Carolina 7-6, and Self moves to 5-0 at Kansas vs. the Tar Heels. Lastly, the Jayhawks are now 24-5 vs. AP top-10 teams in Allen Fieldhouse under Self.
“We were fortunate,” Self said. “But I thought we did some good things. That was a heck of a basketball team we played tonight.”
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram
The post No. 1 Kansas holds off No. 9 North Carolina to win battle of Blue Bloods appeared first on Zagsblog.