ACC Basketball Recap: North Carolina 85 Virginia 80 – Saturday Jan 24th 2026

The takeaway: No. 22 North Carolina completed a dramatic comeback to defeat No. 14 Virginia 85–80 in Charlottesville, marking a signature ACC road win and snapping Virginia’s home winning streak. Trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half, the Tar Heels rallied behind a second-half surge fueled by balanced scoring, timely plays and a clutch finish that showcased Carolina’s resilience. (Tar Heel Times)

Score & line

• Final: North Carolina 85, Virginia 80. (Halftime: UNC 34, Virginia 43.) (Tar Heel Times)
• Records after the game: UNC 16–4 (4–3 ACC); Virginia 16–3 (5–2 ACC). (Tar Heel Times)

Key stats

• North Carolina: 30-61 FG (49.2%), 10-22 3PT (45.5%), 15-22 FT (68.2%), 28 rebounds, 17 assists, 4 turnovers. (Tar Heel Times)
• Virginia: Shot well in the first half but cooled in the second. Virginia held a 26-16 rebounding edge early, contributing to 14 first-half second-chance points, but couldn’t sustain it as UNC took over. (Tar Heel Times)

Top performers:

• Caleb Wilson (UNC): 20 points, 4 rebounds — steady inside scoring and pressure on defense. (Tar Heel Times)
• Jarin Stevenson (UNC): 17 points (all in the second half) — perfect stopgap offense that keyed the comeback. (Tar Heel Times)
• Seth Trimble (UNC): 16 points, including clutch free throws late. (Tar Heel Times)
• Luka Bogavac (UNC): 14 points, featuring multiple threes to stretch the lead. (Tar Heel Times)
• Derek Dixon (UNC): 11 points, 7 assists and just one turnover — efficient floor generalship. (Tar Heel Times)
• Thijs De Ridder (Virginia): 20 points, 7 rebounds — led the Cavaliers’ scoring. (ESPN.com)

Game flow — the moments that mattered

• Early Virginia dominance: The Cavaliers jumped to a 16-point lead late in the first half, largely thanks to their rebounding advantage and second-chance points. Virginia’s physicality in the paint helped hold UNC at arm’s length, and they carried that into a 43–34 halftime lead. (Tar Heel Times)
• Tar Heel resurgence to start the second half: Carolina came out of the break with renewed energy — getting stops, forcing turnovers and pushing the pace. An early run trimmed the deficit and set the tone for UNC to take control. (Tar Heel Times)
• Stevenson sparks the comeback: Jarin Stevenson’s burst in the second half — including a dunk that put UNC ahead for the first time with around 11:57 to go — energized the Tar Heels and shifted momentum. (Tar Heel Times)
• Clutch late sequence: With the game tight down the stretch, Stevenson and Trimble converted plays in crucial moments — Stevenson with a three-point play and Trimble stepping to the line for key free throws — helping Carolina seize a 78–74 edge with under four minutes remaining. (Tar Heel Times)
• Closing strong: Over the final 5:25, UNC outscored UVA 18–9, combining strong offense with timely defensive stops to close out the road victory. (Tar Heel Times)

Player & coaching notes

• Balanced scoring depth: Eight Tar Heels contributed minutes in Charlottesville, and UNC’s ability to get production from multiple wings and guards allowed them to stay resilient when Virginia built its early lead. (Tar Heel Times)
• Half-to-half adjustment: Head coach Hubert Davis emphasized defensive focus and ball movement in the second half; UNC shot over 63% after intermission and dominated transition looks compared to a cold first half. (Tar Heel Times)
• Virginia challenges: Despite strong early rebounding and interior play, the Cavaliers struggled to contain UNC’s second-half offense and turned the ball over at key moments, allowing Carolina to convert those miscues into easy baskets. (Tar Heel Times)

Why UNC won

• Second-half offensive efficiency: Carolina shot far better after halftime — especially from three and at the line — and consistently put pressure on Virginia’s defense. (Tar Heel Times)
• Key defense in crunch time: UNC’s stops late in the game, including forcing tough Virginia possessions and capitalizing on turnovers, swung crucial momentum. (Tar Heel Times)
• Clutch free throws and finishing plays: Trimble and Stevenson’s late conversion on timely possessions and free throws helped protect the lead when the Cavaliers threatened to retake it. (Tar Heel Times)

Quick look ahead

The Tar Heels will aim to carry this momentum into their next ACC road test against Georgia Tech, while Virginia will regroup before hosting Notre Dame in their next matchup. Both teams remain in the thick of the ACC standings and will use this game’s lessons as the league schedule intensifies. (Tar Heel Times)