RJ Davis scored 23 points and nailed five 3-pointers, while Ven-Allen Lubin contributed a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, leading North Carolina to a 68-59 victory over Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. This win marked a significant milestone for Coach Hubert Davis, reaching his 100th career victory with the program. North Carolina (22-12), showcasing a strong finish to the season with eight wins from their last nine games, will face top-seeded Duke in the semifinals on Friday. Duke’s coach Jon Scheyer has indicated doubts about the participation of standout freshman Cooper Flagg due to an ankle sprain.
Wake Forest (21-11) aimed to reach their first ACC Tournament semifinals since 2006 but fell short. The game saw a critical moment when Jae’Lyn Withers hit a corner 3-pointer with 4:35 left on the clock, securing a 57-56 lead for the Tar Heels, a lead they managed to hold onto.
The Tar Heels extended their lead to 63-57 with 2:04 remaining, thanks to a 6-0 run. Lubin made a free throw, followed by a blocked shot that paved the way for Davis’s fifth 3-pointer. Lubin then completed the sequence with an impactful alley-oop dunk. Despite a field goal from Wake Forest’s Hunter Sallis, Lubin’s subsequent putback dunk widened the lead to 65-59 with 1:27 to play.
Key defensive play came from Drake Powell, who intercepted an inbounds pass, leading to Seth Trimble being fouled and making one of two free throws, setting a seven-point margin. Trimble contributed 10 additional points, aiding North Carolina in avenging a close 67-66 loss to Wake Forest earlier in the season.
Hunter Sallis led the scoring for Wake Forest with 25 points. Tre’Von Spillers provided solid support with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Efton Reid III gathered 10 rebounds during the contest. RJ Davis overcame an injury scare, having twisted his ankle with 6:49 left when he landed on Juke Harris’s foot during a drive. Despite this, Davis continued to play, hitting two crucial free throws to regain the lead for North Carolina at 54-53.