Houston, Tx
Defending champ Baylor’s furious comeback not enough, falls to UNC in March Madness
Baylor was down 25 factors to North Carolina earlier than making a livid comeback to drive extra time.
FORT WORTH, Texas — RJ Davis scored a career-high 30 factors with a nifty layup whereas being fouled in extra time, and eighth-seeded North Carolina blew a 25-point second-half lead however nonetheless discovered a method to beat defending champion Baylor 93-86 within the second spherical of the NCAA Event on Saturday.
Brady Manek had a season-high 26 factors earlier than getting ejected due to a flagrant foul halfway by way of the second half, proper after his 3-pointer had given the Tar Heels (26-9) their largest lead.
A yr after going out within the first spherical of the tourney in retiring coach Roy Williams’ remaining sport, Davis, Armando Bacot and these Tar Heels (26-9) are headed to Philadelphia and a Candy 16 for first-year coach Hubert Davis.
Davis received his solely factors in extra time on the off-balance layup with 1:18 left and added the free throw for a 91-85 lead.
Adam Flagler had 27 factors for Baylor (27-7), which made just one subject objective in extra time. James Akinjo had 20 factors whereas Jeremy Sochan had 15 factors and 11 rebounds.
All-ACC energy ahead Armando Bacot had 15 factors and 16 rebounds for North Carolina. After lacking three of 4 free throws within the remaining 38 seconds of regulation, he made three of 5 in extra time.
The Tar Heels gained as No. 8 seed over a prime seed for third time. They did so on the way in which to the Remaining 4 in 2000, 10 years after after beating top-seeded Oklahoma when Davis was a participant for Dean Smith.
Baylor misplaced within the second spherical for the second time within the final three NCAA tourneys. The Bears, who fell to top-seeded Gonzaga within the spherical of 32 three years in the past, have been making an attempt to match the most important comeback ever in an NCAA Event sport.
Manek, the graduate switch from Oklahoma of the Huge 12, was ejected with 10:08 left after his left elbow to the face of Sochan as they have been battling beneath the Baylor basket. Manek had simply drained a 3-pointer that put the Tar Heels forward 67-42.
With Manek out, and Caleb Love fouling out quickly after that, the Tar Heels had 10 turnovers as Baylor turned up the strain and made a livid rally.
The Bears received inside 76-73 on a three-point play with 1:48 left by Akinjo, who had one other one with 16 seconds left to tie the sport at 80-80. North Carolina had yet another shot, however Davis’ 3-point attempt hit off the entrance of the rim.
North Carolina will play both UCLA or Saint Mary’s within the Candy 16.
