CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In a thrilling start to the ACC season, No. 20 North Carolina narrowly defeated Georgia Tech 68-65 on Saturday. Seth Trimble was a standout performer, contributing 19 points to the Tar Heels’ victory while shooting an impressive 5 of 6 from the field and hitting 8 of 9 free throws. RJ Davis supported the effort with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, and Ian Jackson came off the bench to add 15 points of his own.

For Georgia Tech, Lance Terry led the scoring with 22 points, while Baye Ndongo recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. The matchup saw North Carolina play without Ty Claude, a graduate transfer from Georgia Tech, who was sidelined due to an injury to his right eye.

The victory was significant for the Tar Heels as it ended a three-game losing streak. They were on the verge of their first four-game slide since 2020 and were also trying to avoid the worst start to a season in over two decades, a scenario from the 2001-02 season.

Conversely, Georgia Tech struggled with their performance, recording a season-high 14 turnovers while managing only eight assists—tying their season-low. This level of ball control was critical, as North Carolina managed to turn the ball over 18 times, marking their fifth consecutive game with double-digit turnovers.

Looking ahead, the Tar Heels will host La Salle next Saturday in Chapel Hill, while the Yellow Jackets will face Northwestern on December 15 in a neutral site match set to take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.