North Carolina
Deadspin | After just making cut, San Diego State, North Carolina to clash
DAYTON, Ohio — One of the final teams to make the 68-team NCAA Tournament field takes on a team that came close to a national title two years ago when North Carolina battles San Diego State in a First Four showdown Tuesday night in Dayton, Ohio.
The winner in a duel of No. 11 seeds will play No. 6 Ole Miss in a first-round South Region contest on Friday at Milwaukee.
North Carolina (22-13) was the most controversial at-large selection of the NCAA Tournament selection committee, chaired by North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham.
San Diego State (21-9) entered 2024-25 off its best two-season run in program history, losing to UConn in the national championship game in 2023 and reaching the Sweet 16 last year.
The Tar Heels boosted their NCAA Tournament hopes with a late-season four-game winning streak. They won their first two games in the conference tournament at Charlotte, N.C., before falling to Duke for the second time in seven days.
North Carolina was just 1-12 in Quad 1 games but managed to win all eight Quad 2 games it played.
According to NCAA Tournament selection committee vice chair Keith Gill, when Memphis beat UAB in the American Athletic Conference title game, that ensured that Memphis would not take up an at-large berth, allowing the Tar Heels to receive a bid for the third time in four years under coach Hubert Davis.
Davis gave credit to his players for playing their best basketball of the season leading up to the ACC tournament, giving themselves a chance to get into the NCAAs.
“For them to, in the midst of those questions (about the NCAA Tournament), be able to focus on preparation and practice to play and focus on what is real in regards to whomever we’re playing that particular week (was impressive),” Davis said. “Being able to do that basically playing must-win games for a month and a half, in that stretch, we’ve actually played our best basketball all season.”
RJ Davis leads Carolina in scoring at 17.0 points per game while Ian Jackson adds 12.4 points. Seth Trimble adds 11.6 points and 5.1 rebounds.
“We’ve been playing our best,” said North Carolina wing Ven-Allen Lubin, who contributes 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds. “We’ve learned a lot and we’ve grown a lot. I really think we can play against anybody.”
The Aztecs are coached by Brian Dutcher, the only San Diego State men’s coach with at least 21 wins in each of his first eight seasons. Dutcher’s teams are averaging 24.8 wins per season, including 21 so far this year.
SDSU had an anxious wait Sunday while hoping to hear name called by the selection committee after losing to Boise State in the Mountain West quarterfinals.
“We play our best basketball in March,” Dutcher said. “That’s what we always do. I’ve been in the (Mountain West) championship game seven times. Unfortunately, I’m 3-4, but I’ve made the game. This is the first time we’ve bowed out early, and it’s unfortunate, but that’s basketball.”
The Aztecs are led by Nick Boyd and Miles Byrd, the only two players averaging in double figures in scoring. Boyd averages 13.4 points a game while Byrd is scoring 12.6 points. Magoon Gwath grabs 5.2 rebounds with 2.6 blocks to go with an 8.5 scoring average.
Gwath, the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, is slated to play Tuesday. He missed the previous five games with a knee injury but practiced with the team on Sunday.
“He showed that he looked really good for a guy that’s been off since February 22nd,” Dutcher said. “He looked really good so we’re excited to have him back.”
–By Mike Petraglia, Field Level Media
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 6-2-0, Fireball: 6
Evening: 4-1-7, Fireball: 5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 7-6-9-4, Fireball: 4
Evening: 8-1-5-6, Fireball: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
02-21-32-35-37
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from April 19 drawing
18-26-27-31-42
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
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