Epic comeback! Three takeaways from UNC basketball’s thrilling win over Dayton in Maui
The No. 12 North Carolina Tar Heels (4-1) rallied from a 21-point second-half deficit to defeat the Dayton Flyers (5-1), 90-92 in the first round of the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center.
RJ Davis led the charge for the Tar Heels with 30 points and clutch shots down the stretch to put UNC ahead. Seth Trimble also played a pivotal role, scoring a career-high 27 points, while Jalen Washington stepped up defensively and contributed key plays despite a rough first half.
The Flyers’ experienced roster put UNC on the ropes early. The Tar Heels, who led the nation with just 7.8 turnovers per game entering Monday, struggled with control on the offensive end. Still, UNC adjusted and was able to initiate one of the most exciting comebacks in recent program history.
This victory marks a statement win for UNC in the 40th anniversary of the Maui Invitational, keeping its hopes alive for a fifth title. North Carolina advances to the tournament semifinals, where the Tar Heels will face Auburn on Tuesday at 11 p.m. EST.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
Second-largest comeback in UNC history
On Davis’ stepback three-pointer with just under two minutes to play, UNC erased a 21-point deficit. With another three by freshman guard Drake Powell less than a minute later, as well as four late-game free throws from Davis, the Tar Heels held on to secure the win — marking the second-largest comeback in UNC history. The last comeback of that magnitude came in 2006 against Georgia Tech.
Dayton appeared to be in control after building a sizable lead thanks to UNC’s early turnovers and mistakes. The Flyers forced 12 UNC turnovers, converting them into 19 points in the first half alone.
However, the Tar Heels’ resilience and adjustments helped shift the momentum in the latter stages of the game. A combination of key stops, improved ball security (UNC committed just three turnovers in the second half), and timely scoring from Davis, Trimble and Washington turned the game on its head.
North Carolina shot at least 50% in the second half for the fourth straight game. The last time UNC had a streak that long was in eight straight games in the 2021-2022 season.
Trimble, Davis take over in second half
Trimble’s performance was a game-changer in UNC’s rally. The junior guard set a new career high with 27 points — 17 of those coming in the second half — at an efficient clip of 71%.
The aggressiveness of Trimble on both ends of the court, combined with his timely buckets, helped give UNC the offensive spark it needed to stay in the game. He also added 10 rebounds to lead the Tar Heels’ effort on the boards.
Trimble’s newfound scoring confidence — rising up for three-pointers and finishing through contact with flair — will be a key asset for UNC moving forward in the tournament, especially in tight, high-stakes matchups like this one.
Davis, who finished with 30 points, was particularly lethal in the game’s final minutes. His step-back three-pointer with two minutes remaining gave UNC its first lead of the second half. When Dayton responded with a triple of its own, Davis found Powell in the corner to put the Tar Heels back on top.
The reigning ACC Player of the Year’s 20 second-half points proved critical in shifting the momentum. Davis’ late-game poise once again demonstrated his leadership under pressure and was key to UNC’s ability to weather Dayton’s onslaught.
Defensive resilience, Washington’s contributions
While the Tar Heels’ offense took time to find its rhythm, their defense stood firm.
After struggling in the first half, the Tar Heels were able to better contest Dayton’s shots in the second frame. The Flyers saw their shooting percentage drop from over 50% in the first half to just 35% in the second, as UNC tightened up its defense and forced tougher looks.
Washington, who had a rough first half, came up huge in the final stretch, providing pressure on defense and, on the other end, getting to the rim to either finish or draw fouls. His ability to defend without fouling and to contest shots helped disrupt Dayton’s offensive flow, as the Flyers only had eight points in the paint in the second half.
The Tar Heels’ defense, paired with improved ball movement and fewer turnovers, was critical to their late-game resurgence. Well, that and an admittedly lucky call on Nate Santos’ long-range jumper with six seconds remaining, which was declared a two-point shot and not a game-tying three-pointer.