UNC ends overtime on 9-0 run, holds off Charlotte in exhibition finale

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UNC ends overtime on 9-0 run, holds off Charlotte in exhibition finale

Aidan Jensen, Tar Heels Wire · Tar Heels Wire

Tue, Oct 27, 2026 ·

11 min read

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The UNC men's basketball team welcomed the Charlotte 49ers to Chapel Hill on Oct. 27 for a final preseason tuneup.

North Carolina had mixed results in its first two exhibitions. It beat USC by 18 and lost to Indiana by the same margin . Charlotte lost at Georgia by 20, but had a chance to redeem itself in the Dean Dome.

Facing a strong test from the 49ers, the Tar Heels roared back late in regulation and pulled away in overtime, winning 89-82.

Charlotte started overtime with an emphatic Jayden Fort slam that silenced the Dean Dome. After Sayon Keita and Miguel Allen traded buckets, UNC guard Neo Avdalas tied the score at 82 and started the decisive 9-0 run.

North Carolina nearly lost Tuesday's preseason clash in regulation. It trailed 78-77 and needed to foul with 17 seconds left. However, the 49ers made a very Michigan-esque mistake. They called a timeout with none left, leading to technical free throws. Terrence Brown made his second free throw to tie the score, and the Tar Heels forced a bad shot from Charlotte leading scorer Keyshaun Tillery, setting the stage for overtime.

Brown was the main force in UNC's win. He scored a game-high 27 points, surpassing his total from UNC's first two exhibitions combined. North Carolina was shoot less than 25% from the floor at one point in the first half, but finished nearly 51%. The Tar Heels allowed too many offensive boards and second-chance points, which needs to be fixed before the regular season gets too far along. The 49ers' bench played much better than the Tar Heels'.

Though far from pretty, UNC found a way to win against a much-improved Charlotte squad. North Carolina plays again in six days, welcoming Western Carolina to the Smith Center on Monday to formally kick off the Michael Malone era.

UNC vs. Charlotte score

Half	H1	H2	OT	Score
Charlotte	36	42	4	82
UNC	33	45	11	89

UNC vs. Charlotte live updates, analysis

FINAL: UNC 89, Charlotte 82

09:57 PM ET, October 27 2026

Tuesday night in Chapel Hill was far from pretty, but the Tar Heels got it done. After Terrence Brown and strong team defense forced overtime, UNC ended the extra frame on a 7-point run, beating Charlotte 89-82 in one final, preseason tune-up.

Brown broke out to lead all scorers with 27 points, surpassing his total from North Carolina's previous two games. The Tar Heels finished shooting 51 percent as a team, a significant improvement from their under-25% mark early.

FREE basketball in Chapel Hill!

09:38 PM ET, October 27 2026

Thanks to a Charlotte technical foul and Terrence Brown free throw, UNC heads into overtime tied at 78-all with the 49ers.

Jarin Stevenson's 3-pointer closes UNC gap to three late

09:30 PM ET, October 27 2026

Needing a clutch bucket late, North Carolina turned to Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson for a 3-pointer.

Tar Heels trail Charlotte, 76-73, with 1:27 left.

Charlotte takes 6-point run into timeout

09:26 PM ET, October 27 2026

This second half is a game of runs. Charlotte has the latest run, scoring the last six points and taking a 74-69 lead over UNC.

Tar Heels go to the charity stripe out of the under-4-minute media timeout. 2:42 left in regulation.

Tar Heels are HOT!

09:11 PM ET, October 27 2026

UNC and Charlotte were tied at 47-all with 12 minutes left. Thanks to five consecutive made shots and three straight Sayon Keita points, North Carolina has a 64-57 advantage.

Tar Heels made each of their past five field goals.

Jaydon Young is on a HEATER

08:57 PM ET, October 27 2026

Senior guard Jaydon Young is the Tar Heels' second-half leader, scoring 11 points and extend UNC's lead to 54-51.

Jaydon Young ties the game!!

08:48 PM ET, October 27 2026

UNC senior guard Jaydon Young nails a second-half 3-pointer, tying the game at 45-all!

Alex Samodurov forces a Charlotte timeout

08:45 PM ET, October 27 2026

Greek big man Alex Samodurov finished with a nice up-and-under layup, giving UNC a quick two points and forcing a Charlotte timeout.

Tar Heels cut their second-half gap to 45-42. We're five-and-a-half minutes into the second half.

Keyshaun Tillery pushes Charlotte advantage back to 9

08:39 PM ET, October 27 2026

Cincinnati transfer Keyshaun Tillery is have a night, leading all scorers with 19 points. Tillery just nailed his fifth 3-pointer, extending Charlotte's lead over UNC to 44-35 at the first, second-half media timeout.

The main first-half difference?

08:29 PM ET, October 27 2026

Charlotte has eight second-chance points, compared to just one for UNC. That's a 7-point difference, with Charlotte leading 36-33 at halftime.

Tar Heels starting to shoot the basketball better

08:28 PM ET, October 27 2026

At one point, UNC shot under 25 percent from the floor, while Charlotte was red-hot at 50%. At halftime, North Carolina is now shooting 39%, while the 49ers cooled off slightly to 45%.

Tar Heels end first half on 9-0 run

08:26 PM ET, October 27 2026

Sayon Keita and Maximo Adams each drained 3-pointers. Neo Avdalas converted an and-one. Thanks to this first half-ending sequence, UNC ended the frame on a 9-0 run and only trails, 36-33.

HALFTIME: Charlotte 36, UNC 33

08:20 PM ET, October 27 2026

The Tar Heels, who trailed by 14 at one point in the first half, won the final four minutes and cut their halftime gap to 36-33.

Terrence Brown looks every bit as advertised for North Carolina, leading his teammates with 12 points. Neo Avdalas and Jarin Stevenson connected for a loud alley-oop, while the Tar Heel defense slowed down Charlotte's hot shooting

Neo Avdalas, Jarin Stevenson connect for electric alley-oop

08:07 PM ET, October 27 2026

The Tar Heels are struggling from the field, but their most recent play gives hope closing out the first half.

Neo Avdalas connected with Jarin Stevenson under the basket for an alley-oop. Charlotte calls timeout and UNC trails, 29-19, with 4:08 left in the first half.

UNC needs to find its shooting stroke...soon

07:58 PM ET, October 27 2026

The Tar Heels face a 25-13 deficit with under eight minutes left in the first half. North Carolina is shooting just 4-of-16 from the field, while Charlotte is at 50 percent.

UNC deficit grows to 10

07:47 PM ET, October 27 2026

The Tar Heels are trailing Charlotte, 18-8, with 11:52 left in the first half. Sayon Keita will shoot free throws out of the media timeout.

North Carolina is shooting just 25 percent (3-of-12) from the field, while the 49ers are 7-of-15.

Tar Heels trail after first timeout

07:40 PM ET, October 27 2026

UNC and Charlotte are shooting a combined 6-of-22 from the field. North Carolina is on the wrong end early, trailing 10-5 just six minutes into the first half.

Utah transfer Terrence Brown has four of North Carolina's first five points.

Who's starting for Charlotte?

07:29 PM ET, October 27 2026

Former Tar Heel Wes Miller, now the head coach at Charlotte, will roll with Dorian Finister, Jordi Rodriguez-Stegemeijer, Keyshaun Tillery, Dylan Grant and Michael Walz in his first starting lineup.

All five 49ers are incoming transfers.

Can Sayon Keita build off his near double-double?

07:22 PM ET, October 27 2026

Sayon Keita, who projects to be UNC's starting center come the regular season, was his team's best player in a 76-58 loss at Indiana.

Keita scored a career-high 12 points in a North Carolina uniform, grabbing nine rebounds and proving himself as a major post presence.

North Carolina Tar Heels center Sayon Keita (21) attempts a dunk Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the first half of an exhibition game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

New addition to the Smith Center

07:16 PM ET, October 27 2026

If you're looking at courtside seats tonight, you'll notice some new additions. Each side of the scorer's table has navy blue padded chairs, with the classic Tar Heel Blue "heel" on the backrest.

Who replaces Matt Able in UNC's starting lineup>

07:14 PM ET, October 27 2026

Maximo Adams, the crown jewel of North Carolina's 2026 recruiting class, draws the start over Matt Able tonight. Able wasn't in uniform pregame.

Adams will start alongside Terrence Brown, Neo Avdalas, Jarin Stevenson and Sayon Keita.

UNC down two key players for preseason finale

07:10 PM ET, October 27 2026

Guard Matt Able, who started each of North Carolina's first two preseason games and center Cameron Fens, who still can't play due to an eligibility issue, weren't in uniform pregame.

2026-27 Charlotte basketball roster

04:03 PM ET, October 27 2026

0 – F Jayden Fort, R-So.

1 – G Dorian Finister, R-Sr.

2 – G Chaze Harris, 5th

3 – C Michael Walz, 5th

5 – G Ryan Evans, Jr.

6 – C Peyton Marshall, Jr.

7 – G/F Jordi Rodriguez-Stegemeijer, So.

8 – G Frank Oguche, R-Fr.

9 – F Dylan Grant, Jr.

10 – G Lance Barnes, Fr.

11 – G Keyshaun Tillery, So.

12 – F Arden Conyers, R-Jr.

13 – F Miguel Allen, Fr.

24 – F/C Tyler McKinley, R-So.

2026-27 UNC basketball roster

04:00 PM ET, October 27 2026

1 – G Terrence Brown, Sr.
2 – G Isaiah Denis, So.
3 – G Matt Able, So.
4 – G Jaydon Young, Sr.
5 – G/F Kevin Thomas, Fr.
14 – G Angelo Brizzi, Gr.
15 – F Jarin Stevenson, Sr.
17 – G Neo Avdalas, So.
21 – C Sayon Keita, Fr.
22 – F Alex Samodurov, Jr.
25 – F Maximo Adams, Fr.
30 – G Malloy Smith, Fr.
32 – G Evan Smith, Fr.
35 – C Cade Bennerman, So.
54 – C Cameron Fens, Gr.
99 – F John Holbrook, Jr.

UNC Men's Basketball 2026-27 schedule

03:53 PM ET, October 27 2026

October 9: Exhibition vs. USC Trojans in Greensboro, N.C. (7 p.m.)

Oct. 18: Exhibition at Indiana Hoosiers in Indianapolis (5 p.m.)

Oct. 27: Exhibition vs. Charlotte (7:30 p.m.)

November 2: Season Opener vs. Western Carolina (7 p.m.)

Nov. 6: vs. Wofford (7 p.m.)

Nov. 10: vs. Wyoming (7 p.m.)

Nov. 13: vs. Georgia (7 p.m.)

Nov. 20: vs. Marshall (9 p.m.)

Nov. 23: vs. Monmouth (8 p.m.)

Nov. 27: Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C. (7 p.m.)

December 1: ACC-SEC Challenge vs. Arkansas (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 6: vs. Butler (3 p.m.)

Dec. 12: at Georgetown (12 p.m.)

Dec. 15: Tobacco Road Classic vs. NC State in Greensboro (7 p.m.)

Dec. 19: CBS Sports Clasic vs. Kentucky in New York, N.Y. (2:30 p.m.)

Dec. 21: vs. The Citadel (8 p.m.)

Dec. 30: vs. Cal (4 p.m.)

January 2, 2027: at Boston College (4 p.m.)

Jan. 5: at Louisville (9 p.m.)

Jan. 9: vs. NC State (12 p.m.)

Jan. 13: at Florida State (7 p.m.)

Jan. 16: vs. Stanford (2:15 p.m.)

Jan. 19: vs. Virginia (9 p.m.)

Jan. 23: at Syracuse (12 p.m.)

Jan. 26: vs. SMU (7 p.m.)

Jan. 30: Nashville (Tenn.) Hoops Showdown vs. Illinois in Bridgestone Arena (6 or 6:30 p.m.)

February 2: at Notre Dame

Feb. 6: vs. Georgia Tech (2:15 p.m.)

Feb. 8: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)

Feb. 13: at Duke (5:30 p.m.)

Feb. 20: at Wake Forest (7 p.m.)

Feb. 22: vs. Miami (7 p.m.)

Feb. 27: at Virginia Tech (7 p.m.)

March 2: at Pitt (9 p.m.)

March 6: vs. Duke (6 or 6:30 p.m.)

March 9-13: ACC Tournament in Greensboro

UNC vs. Charlotte injury updates, inactives

03:48 PM ET, October 27 2026

Neither UNC or Charlotte have any reported injuries or inactives ahead of tonight's preseason tilt.

UNC vs. Charlotte prediction

03:41 PM ET, October 27 2026

UNC 82, Charlotte 71.Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time since March, the Tar Heels should thrive in their final preseason tune-up. Malone will likely empty North Carolina's bench, including the walk-ons.

Charlotte will play in its first preseason game, so expect some rust from Miller's squad. The former UNC player has a transfer-heavy team, bringing several guys with him from Cincinnati.

The Tar Heels will rebound from their loss at Indiana, showing their home crowd how good they can be come regular season time.

How to watch UNC vs. Charlotte: TV channel, streaming info

03:39 PM ET, October 27 2026

UNC vs. Charlotteairs live on ACC Network Extra and will be streamed on WatchESPN
Tuesday, October 27
7:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC ends overtime on 9-0 run, holds off Charlotte in exhibition finale

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