University of North Carolina Athletics

The Tar Heels made just 5 of 28 three-point attempts as a team (17.9 percent), while Alabama hit 12 of 33 from behind the arc.


The Crimson Tide led essentially from start to finish and improved to 7-2 in the 2024-25 season. Carolina lost for the third straight time, falling 4-4. Alabama has beaten UNC three times in a row, including once in each of the last three seasons.


Mark Sears led Alabama with 20 points, while Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway each scored 15 points. Holloway made five three-pointers.


Freshmen Ian Jackson Scored a season-high 23 points for the Tar Heels, hitting 10 of 17 shots, including three of five three-pointers. He is the first Tar Heel non-starter to score at least 20 points in a game since Walker Kessler against Florida State on February 27, 2021. His 23 points are the most by a UNC freshman since Caleb Love had 25 points against Duke on February 6, 2021.



RJ Davis scored 18 points but shot 7 of 24 from the floor, including 1 of 11 from three-point range. He was 1 for 20 from behind the arc in his last two games against Alabama. Seth Trimble added 12 points despite making 4 of 13 shooting.


The UNC starters shot a total of 15 for 51 from the floor (29.4 percent). The Tar Heels’ 19-game winning streak at the Smith Center against non-conference opponents came to an end.

“I don’t think we played well enough to win tonight and we didn’t consistently do everything we could to put ourselves in a position to win a game like this,” Tar Heel head coach said Hubert Davis. “When things don’t go our way, there are two options: you can stay down and whine and complain, or you can pull your tail back up and step forward and start swinging.”

The Crimson Tide led for most of the first half, built a double-digit lead and remained ahead by eight or more for most of the final nine minutes until halftime. Carolina shot just 2 for 13 from three-point range while Alabama made seven three-pointers in the first half.


Alabama used a 9-0 run in the first three-plus minutes after halftime to take a 14-point lead and force a Tar Heel timeout. The lead grew to 18 as the half progressed.

“The level of intensity and attention to detail has to be there on every possession,” Hubert Davis said about his team. “And the rotations and subs during the game should look to have a fresh, energetic group on the floor that can make that happen. I can speak Xs and Os, but you can’t get there until you bring that sustained energy.”

How it happened

First half
• Alabama built a double-digit lead midway through the half, marking the fourth straight game in which the Tar Heels trailed by at least 10 points. UNC got within five late in the half before the Crimson Tide led 43-34 at the break.
• Holloway led Alabama with 12 points and Sears added 11 in the first 20 minutes.
• The Tide made seven three-pointers in the first half while Carolina was 2 for 13 from behind the arc (15.4 percent).
• Overall, the Tar Heels shot 36.1 percent from the floor as a team.
• Jackson led UNC with 11 first-half points, including two breakaway dunks. Davis had 10 points but hit just one of five three-pointers.



Second half
• Alabama went on a 9-0 run in 1:41 of the second half to extend its lead to 52-38, its largest lead of the game at that point.
• The Tide had extended its lead to 67-50 by the second media timeout of the half.
• UNC’s shooting woes continued in the second half as it finished 3 for 15 from three-point range.





Notes
• UNC is now 43-28 all-time against top-10 opponents at the Smith Center
• Carolina is 479-88 overall at the Smith Center, including 230-19 against non-conference opponents.
• The Tar Heels saw their 19-game home winning streak against non-ACC teams come to an end.
• Drake Powell made his first career start for the Tar Heels that night and posted six points and three rebounds.
• The 15-point loss was Carolina’s largest loss at the Smith Center since its 20-point loss to Duke on Feb. 5, 2022.
• Carolina recorded its lowest three-point percentage (17.9 percent) since shooting 8.7 percent against Notre Dame on Feb. 22, 2023.





Next
The Tar Heels will play the second of three straight home games when they play their ACC opener against Georgia Tech on Saturday, December 4th at 2 p.m