CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In an exciting season opener, RJ Davis led the No. 9 North Carolina Tar Heels to a 90-76 win over Elon, contributing 24 points and spearheading an impressive 11-0 scoring surge in the second half after the team had fallen behind.

Elliot Cadeau performed well, adding 15 points, while Seth Trimble chipped in with 12. Jae’Lyn Withers also made a mark with a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. However, North Carolina struggled somewhat offensively, managing only 41.2% shooting from the field.

Elon’s top scorers were TJ Simpkins, who netted 18 points, and Nick Dorn with 17, followed by Sam Sherry and TK Simpkins, who contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively. The Phoenix made a notable 14-0 run that briefly put them ahead at 71-69 with less than seven minutes remaining in the game.

Davis responded to the challenge by hitting a floater and then securing a corner 3-pointer that helped North Carolina regain the momentum. Earlier in the first half, the Tar Heels established a lead of 32-21, thanks to a 3-pointer from Withers just before the eight-minute mark. They finished the half strong, scoring the last seven points to head into halftime with a 51-39 lead, shutting out Elon over the final two minutes.

For Elon, the game marked a continuation of their struggles following a 13-19 season last year; they did showcase a strong second half where they converted eight of their ten shots during a rally, highlighted by Dorn’s five successful 3-pointers.

Despite the victory, the Tar Heels recognized that they have plenty to improve upon. This win marked their 20th consecutive season opening victory. Davis, who is starting his fifth year of collegiate basketball following an All-American season, has consistently put up double-figure points in his season-opening games.

A crucial moment in the match came when North Carolina elevated their defense, preventing Elon from scoring on six consecutive possessions, which allowed the Tar Heels to extend their lead to 80-71.

A standout statistic for the game was North Carolina’s impressive handling of the ball; they did not commit a turnover in the first 13 minutes and finished with only six turnovers overall.

Looking ahead, North Carolina will face a formidable opponent in No. 1 Kansas on Friday, while Elon will host Bluefield (Va.) on Saturday.