In the aftermath of a thrilling game at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jae’Lyn Withers stood beside his coach, Hubert Davis, facing a sea of reporters all eager to uncover the story behind the dramatic finish. The North Carolina Tar Heels had just nearly pulled off a sensational rally against top-seeded Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, clawing back from a daunting 24-point deficit. Yet, their hopes were dashed in a heart-wrenching turn of events. Withers’ lane violation in the final moments erased what would have been a tying free throw by Ven-Allen Lubin, handing Duke a narrow 74-71 victory in a suspense-filled semifinal.
The game promised a memorable chapter in the storied rivalry, but not for a late-game comeback as initially anticipated. Rather, it became unforgettable for the uncommon mishap that turned the tide. Withers, a key player in North Carolina’s late-season resurgence as they sought to secure an NCAA Tournament bid, confronted the postgame questions with commendable poise. Speaking softly, and with Davis’s supportive presence, he reflected on the incident. “I guess you could just say I kind of mistimed the shot,” Withers admitted. “I was trying to make sure I crashed hard to secure a rebound in case he did miss.”
Before that decisive sequence, the Tar Heels (22-13) seemed poised to complete a remarkable turnaround, potentially quelling any doubts regarding their tournament prospects. The Blue Devils, hindered by the absence of injured freshman sensation Cooper Flagg and defender Maliq Brown, had built a commanding 24-point advantage early in the second half following a 15-0 scoring run. Despite this, North Carolina rallied, generating momentum through fast breaks and fluid play. Their deficit dwindled, shrinking to single digits, until they found themselves trailing just 72-71 in the final minute.
A pivotal moment arose as Lubin, following a timeout, drew the fifth and final foul on Duke’s Khaman Maluach with a shrewd play in the paint, leaving 4.1 seconds on the clock. Lubin missed his first free throw attempt yet retained an opportunity to equalize and extend the game. Unfortunately, in the tense atmosphere, Withers inadvertently breached the lane, mistakenly stepping into the paint too soon. Although he quickly retracted, the damage was done.
Duke’s Patrick Ngongba immediately noticed and pointed out Withers’ error. The officiating team blew the whistle, leading Ngongba and his teammate, Isaiah Evans, to celebrate exuberantly. Meanwhile, UNC’s RJ Davis stood stunned beyond the three-point line, with his hands on his head. To pile on the agony, Lubin’s shot found the net, which would have otherwise tied the game at 72.
“Never seen anything like that before, especially up one,” said Duke freshman Kon Knueppel, summarizing the bewilderment felt by the fans in the arena.
Despite the gut-wrenching conclusion, RJ Davis offered his unwavering support to Withers. “We all made mistakes in this game,” he stated. “I am behind J-Wit. He has our full support, and we would not be in this position without J-Wit. I want him to hold his head high.”
With only a fleeting chance to salvage the game, the Tar Heels missed a desperate final three-point attempt. Overcome with emotion, Withers concealed his face with his jersey while seated on the bench. Despite the emotional upheaval, he managed to composure enough to participate in the postgame handshake line, a towel draped over his head.
Reflecting on the events, Withers described his overwhelming sense of disbelief and subsequent disappointment with the outcome. His coach, Hubert Davis, promptly interjected during the interview, emphasizing Withers’ crucial contributions. “Guys, we’re not here without J-Wit,” Davis asserted, underscoring the young player’s significance in their journey.
