In a thrilling season opener at Allen Fieldhouse, the No. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks held on to defeat the No. 9 North Carolina Tar Heels 92-89. After building a massive first-half lead, Kansas withstood a powerful second-half surge from North Carolina, securing the victory with clutch plays in the final seconds of a game that lived up to its high-stakes billing.
Kansas’s Explosive Start Creates a Big Lead
The Kansas Jayhawks came out firing on all cylinders, establishing their dominance from the opening tip. Led by standout center Hunter Dickinson and transfer guard Zeke Mayo, Kansas opened the game with an impressive 15-3 run, immediately putting the Tar Heels on their back foot.
Mayo, a transfer from South Dakota State, was particularly effective, finishing the night with 21 points. Dickinson controlled the paint, making his presence felt early and often.
By the two-minute mark in the first half, Kansas had extended its advantage to a commanding 20 points, leading 49-29. The home crowd was electric, and it appeared the Jayhawks were on their way to an easy victory. North Carolina, however, managed to cut the deficit to 15 points by halftime.
Tar Heels Mount a Fierce Second-Half Comeback
The second half was an entirely different game. North Carolina emerged from the locker room with a renewed sense of purpose and began to systematically chip away at the Kansas lead. A key part of their strategy was attacking the basket and drawing fouls.
The Tar Heels were nearly perfect from the free-throw line, making an incredible 28 of their 31 attempts. This relentless pressure from the charity stripe fueled their comeback and kept them in the game.
RJ Davis was the catalyst for the offense, scoring 16 points, while freshman Elliot Cadeau provided a major spark with 12 points and 7 assists. The momentum fully shifted when Jalen Withers scored consecutive baskets, giving North Carolina its first lead of the game, 80-79, with just over seven minutes remaining.
A Tense Finish Decided by Clutch Plays
With the game on the line, the top-ranked Jayhawks proved their mettle. The final minutes were a nail-biting, back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading crucial baskets.
Hunter Dickinson delivered the most important play of the night, scoring the go-ahead basket with 1:15 left to put Kansas up 90-89. The veteran center later added a free throw to extend the lead to three points with only 12 seconds on the clock.
North Carolina had one last opportunity to force overtime. Elliot Cadeau got a look at a three-pointer, but his shot from the top of the key bounced off the rim as the final buzzer sounded, sealing the hard-fought victory for Kansas.
Stars Shine and Coaches Reflect on the Rivalry
The game was a showcase of top-tier talent. For Kansas, Hunter Dickinson recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Zeke Mayo led the team in scoring. For North Carolina, the backcourt trio of RJ Davis, Seth Trimble, and Elliot Cadeau carried the offensive load.
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Points | Key Stats |
| Zeke Mayo | Kansas | 21 | Sharp Shooting |
| Hunter Dickinson | Kansas | 20 | 10 Rebounds |
| RJ Davis | North Carolina | 16 | Led Second-Half Surge |
| Elliot Cadeau | North Carolina | 12 | 7 Assists |
After the game, Kansas coach Bill Self acknowledged his team’s imperfections but praised their resilience. “Even though we didn’t play our best, we found a way to win,” Self said, celebrating his 590th win, which ties Phog Allen for the most in school history.
Despite the loss, North Carolina coach Hubert Davis was proud of his team’s effort. “If you can’t be fired up to play and compete in this type of atmosphere, something must be wrong with you,” he remarked. The game added another chapter to the storied rivalry, with the next meeting scheduled for 2025 in Chapel Hill.
