UNC basketball’s cold shooting ends season in NCAA Tournament loss to Alabama

LOS ANGELES — UNC basketball’s chilly capturing within the second half was a season-ending blow for the top-seeded Tar Heels in a 89-87 loss to Alabama within the Candy 16 of the NCAA Event.

After surpassing 50 factors within the first half, UNC (29-9) missed 30 of its 40 pictures within the second half and the Crimson Tide (24-11) took benefit with some key stops down the stretch, together with some large performs from Grant Nelson to earn a Hollywood date with Clemson (24-11) on Saturday (8:49 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV) within the Elite Eight.

UNC gave up 80 or extra factors in eight of its 9 losses this season, in order that was the magic quantity for Alabama.

Armando Bacot completed with 19 factors and 12 rebounds in his last sport as a Tar Heel. Cormac Ryan (17 factors), RJ Davis (16 factors) and Harrison Ingram (12 factors) joined Bacot in double figures, however Alabama scored seven of the ultimate 10 factors to clinch the victory.

RJ Davis, Tar Heels’ capturing struggles

RJ Davis, the ACC Participant of the Yr, missed 16 of his first 20 pictures — together with every of his 9 makes an attempt from 3-point vary — in opposition to the Tide. Davis had seven assists and made eight free throws, together with the go-ahead factors within the last two minutes, however his poor capturing efficiency was uncharacteristic in a season that noticed him preserve the Tar Heels on the high of the ACC as one of many high groups within the nation.

RYAN STEPS IN FOR RJ: UNC basketball’s Cormac Ryan defends RJ Davis after Tar Heels’ season-ending loss

HUBERT TALKS BENCH MINUTES: UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis explains bench minutes after loss to Alabama

UNC did not have a solution for Alabama’s Grant Nelson

Alabama’s Grant Nelson took over within the last 5 minutes, scoring 12 factors down the stretch to make UNC the primary No. 1 seed to get bounced from the NCAA Event. Nelson completed with 24 factors, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks to energy the Crimson Tide previous the Tar Heels within the closing minutes.

Workers author Rodd Baxley will be reached at [email protected] or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

This text initially appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC vs Alabama in March Insanity: Tar Heels go chilly in loss