Story by
Derek Dixon takes over late, leads UNC to comeback win at Kentucky
- Story by
- Derek Dixon takes over late, leads UNC to comeback win at Kentucky
The North Carolina Tar Heels and Kentucky Wildcats treated college basketball fans to an instant classic Tuesday night. Both teams traded runs, lead changes and clutch baskets late.
Kentucky led for most of the second half and neutralized UNC's deep offensive attack . When the game mattered most, who'd North Carolina call on?
Advertisement
Freshman Derek Dixon . Coming off the bench for starting point guard Kyan Evans , Dixon scored five of the Tar Heels final six points, anchoring their comeback for a 67-64 victory.
With the Wildcats (5-3) focusing heavily on Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar , Dixon took matters into his own hands. UNC (7-1) called a timeout with 1:07 left in the second half. 14 second later, Dixon nailed a step-back 3-pointer. 64-62 North Carolina.
Colin Chandler quickly responded for Kentucky, driving the lane for a contested layup of his own. With 16 seconds remaining, Dixon converted a contested layup of his own. 66-64 Tar Heels.
Chandler missed a layup on the Wildcats' ensuing possession, then fouled Wilson, who made his second free throw. Wilson intercepted Kentucky's full-court heave, then rightfully celebrated with the rest of his temmates.
Advertisement
UNC trailed for most of the second half, thanks to empty possessions and missed free throws, but defense and offensive rebounding – the latter a program staple – kept the good guys alive. North Carolina held the Wildcats nearly 14 minutes without a second-half field goal, while dominating the offensive glass with a 20-8 advantage.
Wilson (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Veesaar (17 points, 10 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles, with Veesaar adding a pair of clutch baskets late.
The Tar Heels now have two signature wins on their resume , a huge boost to their NCAA Tournament hopes come March. UNC returns home to Chapel Hill on Sunday, facing Georgetown in what should be a packed Dean Dome.
BALLGAME! UNC 67, Kentucky 64
The Tar Heels came through when it mattered most, scoring six points in the final minute. Derek Dixon scored five of those – his first three coming on a go-ahead trifecta, his final two on a go-ahead layup.
Advertisement
UNC beats Kentucky, 67-64, for a much-needed signature win in non-conference play.
UNC denies Collin Chandler... Caleb Wilson to the line for free throws
UNC to the free throw line with 2.6 seconds left. Wilson will shoot a pair, as he's in the double-bonus.
Derek Dixon AGAIN!
Dixon keeps the basketball, blows to the hoop on Henri Veesaar 's screen and gives UNC a 66-64 lead with 12.4 seconds left.
Derek Dixon and Colin Chandler trade clutch shots
Dixon nails the go-ahead, step-back 3-pointer for a 64-62 UNC lead. Chandler drives the lane, tying things at 64.
31 seconds left.
UNC trails by one with 1:07 left
The Tar Heels face a 62-61 deficit against the Wildcats. Hubert Davis called a timeout in the midst of his team's lackluster, offensive possession.
Advertisement
Luke Bogavac fouls out
With 1:41 left in the game, UNC's starting guard fouls out.
Kentucky breaks its FG drought...UNC calls timeout
The Wildcats finally made a shot from the field, thanks to Otega Oweh 's layup with 2:37 left in the second half. Oweh's layup came after Henri Veesaar gave UNC a brief, 1-point lead with his dunk.
Kentucky with the 59-58 advantage.
North Carolina can close the game out if it starts scoring
The Tar Heels are doing a great job preventing the Wildcats from making shots. Problem is, UNC isn't making many shots of its own.
North Carolina has the shooters to close Tuesday's game out. Will they rise to the occasion?
Advertisement
Zayden High ties it up!!
Who else to tie the game up late...but Zayden High?
UNC's second-string center catches a great, full-court pass from Caleb Wilson, laying in the contested two for a 56-56 tie.
3:47 left in the second half.
Caleb Wilson with another double-double
11 points and 10 rebounds for the Tar Heels' star freshman. Five minutes remaining in the game.
UNC failing to take advantage of empty Kentucky possessions
When you get stops, you have to respond with baskets of your own. UNC is holding Kentucky without a field goal in the last five minutes, but UNC is scoreless in the last nearly three minutes.
Advertisement
North Carolina trails the Wildcats, 53-49, with 7:39 left in the game.
Henri Veesaar converts the and-one!
UNC closes its second-half deficit to 49-47.
Perimeter shooting woes continuing
UNC is just four of its first 14 from the perimeter. The Tar Heels made under 20 percent of their threes against Michigan State.
Caleb Wilson struggling to find his shot
The Tar Heels' star freshman made just four of his first 16 shots, forcing a couple when he could look for the pass instead.
Kentucky starting to pull away?
The Wildcats push their lead to 49-44 with 11:58 left in the second half. UNC had a couple empty possessions, which Kentucky took full advantage of.
Advertisement
High-scoring start to second half
UNC trails Kentucky, 43-42, just 5:14 into the second half. The Wildcats started to pull away, thanks to a 6-point lead, only for the Tar Heels to punch right back.
Henri Veesaar and Jarin Stevenson with the Tar Heels' last four points.
Oddly encouraging sign for the Tar Heels
UNC shot just 38 percent in the first half, while Kentucky shot 50%. Both teams are tied.
If the Tar Heels can get into an offensive rhythm, they'll pull ahead quickly in the second half.
Offensive rebounding keeping UNC in the game.
The Tar Heels are still missing too many shots, but they're getting plenty of second-chance opportunities, thanks to crashing the boards.
Advertisement
UNC has an 11-5 advantage over Kentucky on the offensive glass.
UNC and Kentucky enter halftime TIED
The Tar Heels and Wildcats played an extremely back-and-forth first half, with several ties and lead changes throughout.
UNC got the basketball back with 20 seconds left, but a missed layup and put-back attempt sent UNC and Kentucky into halftime tied at 31.
8-2 run gives UNC the lead back...Kentucky up at under-4 timeout
North Carolina took a series of high-percentage shots, giving it a 26-23 lead late in the first half. Kentucky punched right back, re-taking a 27-26 advantage.
There's 3:55 left in the first half.
Advertisement
Kentucky regains the lead
UNC turned the ball over on consecutive possessions, leading to a pair of breakaway dunks for Kentucky. The Wildcats take a 23-20 lead into the under-8 media timeout.
Caleb Wilson heads-up defense preserves the UNC lead
Colin Chandler stole the basketball from North Carolina, racing down the floor for what looked like an easy two. Caleb Wilson got back, swatted the ball away and sent UNC into the under-12 media timeout with a 1-point lead.
THERE we go. UNC shooting better, takes 1-point lead
North Carolina made each of its last four shots from the floor, taking an 18-17 lead into the under-12 media timeout here in the first half.
Advertisement
Jonathan Powell has a pair of 3-pointers, Derek Dixon with four consecutive points and Caleb Wilson with a layup.
Tar Heels ice cold entering first media timeout
UNC picked up where it left off Thanksgiving Day against Michigan State, coming out of the gates shooting ice-cold. North Carolina made just two of its first 10 shots, with Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar providing the points.
Double-trouble for Luka Bogavac ?
Are you ready?
How to Watch UNC basketball vs. Kentucky
TV Channel: ESPN
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Radio: SiriusXM (Channel 81 and 191)
Website: WatchESPN
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC adds signature basketball win to resume with comeback at Kentucky
