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North Carolina beats Wake Forest 68-59 to advance to ACC semifinals behind RJ Davis' 23 points

AP
Mar 13, 2025

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) RJ Davis had 23 points and five 3-pointers, Ven-Allen Lubin added 10 points and 13 rebounds, and No. 5 seed North Carolina beat fourth-seeded Wake Forest 68-59 on Thursday in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals for coach Hubert Davis' 100th victory with the program.

North Carolina (22-12), which has won eight of its last nine games, advances to play No. 1 seed Duke in the semifinals on Friday. Duke coach Jon Scheyer said it’s a “real longshot” that freshman star Cooper Flagg will be able to play because of an ankle sprain.

Wake Forest (21-11) was looking to advance to its first ACC Tournament semifinals since 2006.

Jae’Lyn Withers rattled in a 3-pointer from the corner with 4:35 left to give North Carolina a 57-56 lead and the Tar Heels never trailed again.

North Carolina went ahead 63-57 with 2:04 left after six straight points. Ven-Allen Lubin went 1 of 2 at the free-throw line, but he blocked a shot at the other end and Davis sank his fifth 3-pointer in six attempts. Lubin capped the run with an alley-oop dunk.

After Hunter Sallis ended Wake Forest’s field-goal drought that lasted nearly five minutes, Lubin threw down a putback dunk to make it 65-59 with 1:27 left.

North Carolina guard Drake Powell jumped to intercept an inbounds pass and Seth Trimble was fouled with 31.8 left before making 1 of 2 free throws for a seven-point lead.

Trimble also finished with 10 points for North Carolina, which avenged a 67-66 loss at Wake Forest on Jan. 21.

Sallis led Wake Forest with 25 points. Tre’Von Spillers had 10 points and nine rebounds, and Efton Reid III grabbed 10 rebounds.

Davis turned his left ankle with 6:49 left in the second half when he stepped on the foot of Juke Harris on a drive. After a short break, he made two free throws to give North Carolina the lead at 54-53.

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1st Half
UNC
Tar Heels
33
WAKE
Demon Deacons
31

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Jae'Lyn Withers vs. Tre'Von Spillers (Tar Heels gains possession)
19:38		Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point jump shot
19:36		Cameron Hildreth defensive rebound
19:14		Ty-Laur Johnson misses three point jump shot
19:12		Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound
18:54	+2	Drake Powell makes two point jump shot	2-0
18:39	+2	Tre'Von Spillers makes two point layup (Hunter Sallis assists)	2-2
18:20		Jae'Lyn Withers turnover (out of bounds)
18:00	+2	Tre'Von Spillers makes two point jump shot (Cameron Hildreth assists)	2-4
17:44		Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point layup
17:42		Efton Reid III defensive rebound
17:37		Drake Powell blocks Hunter Sallis's two point layup
17:35		Tre'Von Spillers offensive rebound
17:33		Ty-Laur Johnson misses three point jump shot
17:31		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
17:17		Elliot Cadeau misses two point jump shot
17:15		Efton Reid III defensive rebound
17:10		Ty-Laur Johnson misses two point layup
17:08		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
17:05		Drake Powell offensive foul
17:05		Drake Powell turnover (offensive foul)
16:44		Ty-Laur Johnson misses two point layup
16:42		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
16:38		Jae'Lyn Withers misses three point jump shot
16:36		Tre'Von Spillers defensive rebound
16:25		Hunter Sallis misses two point jump shot
16:23		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
16:16		RJ Davis offensive foul
16:16		RJ Davis turnover (offensive foul)
16:05	+3	Juke Harris makes three point jump shot (Cameron Hildreth assists)	2-7
15:42		Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point jump shot
15:40		Cameron Hildreth defensive rebound
15:32	+2	Cameron Hildreth makes two point jump shot	2-9
15:13		Drake Powell misses three point jump shot
15:11		Efton Reid III defensive rebound
14:47	+2	Tre'Von Spillers makes two point jump shot	2-11
14:45		TV timeout
14:29		Efton Reid III shooting foul (Jalen Washington draws the foul)
14:29	+1	Jalen Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 2	3-11
14:29		Jalen Washington misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:29		Hunter Sallis defensive rebound
14:12		Hunter Sallis misses two point jump shot
14:10		RJ Davis defensive rebound
13:53		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
13:51		Ian Jackson offensive rebound
13:39		Seth Trimble turnover (out of bounds)
13:23	+3	Hunter Sallis makes three point jump shot	3-14
12:58		Drake Powell turnover (lost ball) (Juke Harris steals)
12:43		Ian Jackson personal foul
12:40		Parker Friedrichsen misses two point jump shot
12:38		RJ Davis defensive rebound
12:35		Cameron Hildreth blocks RJ Davis's two point layup
12:33		Juke Harris defensive rebound
12:29		Cameron Hildreth misses three point jump shot
12:27		Ian Jackson defensive rebound
12:04		Hunter Sallis shooting foul (Seth Trimble draws the foul)
12:04	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 1 of 3	4-14
12:04	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 2 of 3	5-14
12:04	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 3 of 3	6-14
11:53		Juke Harris misses two point layup
11:51		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
11:44	+3	Ian Jackson makes three point jump shot (Jae'Lyn Withers assists)	9-14
11:10		Demon Deacons turnover (shot clock violation)
11:10		TV timeout
11:01		Cameron Hildreth shooting foul (Ven-Allen Lubin draws the foul)
11:01	+1	Ven-Allen Lubin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	10-14
11:01		Ven-Allen Lubin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:01		Jae'Lyn Withers offensive rebound
10:58		Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point layup
10:56		Efton Reid III defensive rebound
10:28		Efton Reid III misses three point jump shot
10:26		Tar Heels defensive rebound
10:02		Jae'Lyn Withers misses three point jump shot
10:00		Tar Heels offensive rebound
9:57		Seth Trimble misses two point jump shot
9:55		Tar Heels offensive rebound
9:44	+3	Jae'Lyn Withers makes three point jump shot	13-14
9:23		Cameron Hildreth turnover (bad pass) (Ven-Allen Lubin steals)
9:20		Ven-Allen Lubin turnover (lost ball) (Cameron Hildreth steals)
9:10		Tre'Von Spillers misses three point jump shot
9:08		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
9:00		Ian Jackson turnover (lost ball) (Cameron Hildreth steals)
8:49		Efton Reid III misses three point jump shot
8:47		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
8:29		Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point layup
8:27		Efton Reid III defensive rebound
8:15		Ven-Allen Lubin blocks Cameron Hildreth's two point layup
8:13		Efton Reid III offensive rebound
8:08		Cameron Hildreth misses three point jump shot
8:06		Tar Heels defensive rebound
7:53		Ven-Allen Lubin turnover (bad pass) (Hunter Sallis steals)
7:49		Parker Friedrichsen misses two point layup
7:47		Hunter Sallis offensive rebound
7:44	+2	Hunter Sallis makes two point layup	13-16
7:32	+2	Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point jump shot (Elliot Cadeau assists)	15-16
7:18		Elliot Cadeau personal foul
7:18		TV timeout
7:15		Tre'Von Spillers misses two point jump shot
7:13		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
6:59		Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point layup
6:57		Ven-Allen Lubin offensive rebound
6:54		Efton Reid III blocks Ven-Allen Lubin's two point layup
6:52		Hunter Sallis defensive rebound
6:45	+2	Hunter Sallis makes two point layup	15-18
6:41		Elliot Cadeau turnover (lost ball) (Ty-Laur Johnson steals)
6:22		Efton Reid III misses three point jump shot
6:20		Tre'Von Spillers offensive rebound
6:10		Hunter Sallis misses three point jump shot
6:08		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
5:48		Drake Powell misses two point jump shot
5:46		Tre'Von Spillers defensive rebound
5:38		Drake Powell shooting foul (Hunter Sallis draws the foul)
5:38	+1	Hunter Sallis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	15-19
5:38	+1	Hunter Sallis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-20
5:10		Seth Trimble misses three point jump shot
5:08		Hunter Sallis defensive rebound
4:53	+2	Juke Harris makes two point jump shot	15-22
4:34	+3	RJ Davis makes three point jump shot	18-22
4:12		Cameron Hildreth misses three point jump shot
4:10		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
3:58	+2	Elliot Cadeau makes two point jump shot	20-22
3:31		Efton Reid III offensive foul
3:31		Efton Reid III turnover (offensive foul)
3:31		TV timeout
3:20		Cameron Hildreth personal foul
3:12		Juke Harris shooting foul (RJ Davis draws the foul)
3:12	+1	RJ Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	21-22
3:12	+1	RJ Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	22-22
2:49		Hunter Sallis turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Washington steals)
2:43	+2	Elliot Cadeau makes two point layup	24-22
2:43		Demon Deacons 30 second timeout
2:30		Elliot Cadeau personal foul
2:21		RJ Davis shooting foul (Ty-Laur Johnson draws the foul)
2:21	+1	Ty-Laur Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-23
2:21	+1	Ty-Laur Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-24
2:07	+3	RJ Davis makes three point jump shot (Jae'Lyn Withers assists)	27-24
1:44	+2	Hunter Sallis makes two point jump shot	27-26
1:23		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
1:21		Jalen Washington offensive rebound
1:16	+2	Jalen Washington makes two point dunk	29-26
1:02	+2	Tre'Von Spillers makes two point jump shot (Hunter Sallis assists)	29-28
0:47		Tre'Von Spillers personal foul (RJ Davis draws the foul)
0:47	+1	RJ Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-28
0:47	+1	RJ Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-28
0:38	+2	Omaha Biliew makes two point layup	31-30
0:38		Jalen Washington shooting foul (Omaha Biliew draws the foul)
0:38	+1	Omaha Biliew makes regular free throw 1 of 1	31-31
0:11		Ian Jackson misses two point layup
0:09		Seth Trimble offensive rebound
0:08	+2	Seth Trimble makes two point jump shot	33-31
0:02		Hunter Sallis misses two point layup
0:00		Ian Jackson defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
UNC
Tar Heels
35
WAKE
Demon Deacons
28

Time		Play	Score
19:43	+2	Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point layup (RJ Davis assists)	35-31
19:22		Ty-Laur Johnson misses two point jump shot
19:20		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
19:16	+2	Elliot Cadeau makes two point layup	37-31
18:45		Efton Reid III misses two point jump shot
18:43		Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound
18:43		Ty-Laur Johnson personal foul
18:27	+2	Elliot Cadeau makes two point jump shot	39-31
18:14		Ven-Allen Lubin shooting foul (Cameron Hildreth draws the foul)
18:14	+1	Cameron Hildreth makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-32
18:14		Cameron Hildreth misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:14		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
17:59		Drake Powell misses three point jump shot
17:57		Cameron Hildreth defensive rebound
17:51		Juke Harris turnover (out of bounds)
17:37	+3	RJ Davis makes three point jump shot	42-32
17:37		Demon Deacons 30 second timeout
17:37		TV timeout
17:20	+2	Hunter Sallis makes two point jump shot	42-34
17:02		Jae'Lyn Withers misses three point jump shot
17:00		Cameron Hildreth defensive rebound
16:32		Hunter Sallis misses three point jump shot
16:30		Drake Powell defensive rebound
16:18		Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot
16:16		Ven-Allen Lubin offensive rebound
16:09		Efton Reid III blocks Ven-Allen Lubin's two point jump shot
16:07		Efton Reid III defensive rebound
16:01	+2	Hunter Sallis makes two point layup	42-36
16:01		Ven-Allen Lubin shooting foul (Hunter Sallis draws the foul)
16:01		Hunter Sallis misses regular free throw 1 of 1
16:01		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
15:35		Elliot Cadeau turnover (traveling)
15:35		TV timeout
15:23	+2	Hunter Sallis makes two point layup	42-38
15:15	+3	RJ Davis makes three point jump shot (Seth Trimble assists)	45-38
14:54		Tre'Von Spillers misses two point jump shot
14:52		Seth Trimble defensive rebound
14:49		Tre'Von Spillers blocks Ian Jackson's two point layup
14:47		Tar Heels offensive rebound
14:47		Jalen Washington offensive foul
14:47		Jalen Washington turnover (offensive foul)
14:28	+2	Cameron Hildreth makes two point jump shot	45-40
13:51		RJ Davis misses three point jump shot
13:49		Cameron Hildreth defensive rebound
13:30	+2	Tre'Von Spillers makes two point dunk (Efton Reid III assists)	45-42
13:12		Seth Trimble misses two point jump shot
13:10		Juke Harris defensive rebound
12:50		Cameron Hildreth misses two point layup
12:48		Cameron Hildreth offensive rebound
12:46	+2	Cameron Hildreth makes two point layup	45-44
12:16		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
12:14		Tre'Von Spillers defensive rebound
11:55	+2	Cameron Hildreth makes two point jump shot (Efton Reid III assists)	45-46
11:37		Efton Reid III shooting foul (Seth Trimble draws the foul)
11:37		TV timeout
11:37	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 1 of 2	46-46
11:37	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-46
11:19		Seth Trimble blocks Cameron Hildreth's two point jump shot
11:17		Seth Trimble defensive rebound
11:13		Seth Trimble misses two point jump shot
11:11		Tre'Von Spillers defensive rebound
10:50		Ven-Allen Lubin shooting foul (Hunter Sallis draws the foul)
10:50	+1	Hunter Sallis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-47
10:50	+1	Hunter Sallis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-48
10:36		Juke Harris shooting foul (Seth Trimble draws the foul)
10:36	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 1 of 2	48-48
10:36	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-48
10:14		Hunter Sallis offensive foul
10:14		Hunter Sallis turnover (offensive foul)
9:59		Omaha Biliew blocks Ven-Allen Lubin's two point jump shot
9:57		Tre'Von Spillers defensive rebound
9:48		Hunter Sallis turnover (bad pass) (Jae'Lyn Withers steals)
9:38		Juke Harris blocks Ven-Allen Lubin's two point layup
9:36		Jae'Lyn Withers offensive rebound
9:36		Tre'Von Spillers shooting foul (Jae'Lyn Withers draws the foul)
9:36		Jae'Lyn Withers misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:36	+1	Jae'Lyn Withers makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-48
9:21		Elliot Cadeau shooting foul (Juke Harris draws the foul)
9:21	+1	Juke Harris makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-49
9:21		Juke Harris misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:21		Seth Trimble defensive rebound
9:02		Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point layup
9:00		Efton Reid III defensive rebound
8:30		Omaha Biliew misses three point jump shot
8:28		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
8:24		RJ Davis misses two point layup
8:22		Omaha Biliew defensive rebound
8:11		Cameron Hildreth personal foul
8:11		Elliot Cadeau personal foul
8:11		TV timeout
7:54		Hunter Sallis misses three point jump shot
7:52		Juke Harris offensive rebound
7:52		Seth Trimble personal foul (Juke Harris draws the foul)
7:52	+1	Juke Harris makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-50
7:52	+1	Juke Harris makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-51
7:42		Juke Harris personal foul (Jae'Lyn Withers draws the foul)
7:42	+1	Jae'Lyn Withers makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-51
7:42	+1	Jae'Lyn Withers makes regular free throw 2 of 2	52-51
7:26		Seth Trimble misses three point jump shot
7:24		Hunter Sallis defensive rebound
7:23		Hunter Sallis turnover (out of bounds)
7:20		Ven-Allen Lubin turnover (lost ball) (Hunter Sallis steals)
7:18		Hubert Davis technical foul
7:18	+1	Hunter Sallis makes technical free throw 1 of 2	52-52
7:18	+1	Hunter Sallis makes technical free throw 2 of 2	52-53
7:09		Cameron Hildreth misses three point jump shot
7:07		Drake Powell defensive rebound
6:49		Juke Harris shooting foul (RJ Davis draws the foul)
6:49	+1	RJ Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-53
6:49	+1	RJ Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-53
6:32	+2	Hunter Sallis makes two point jump shot	54-55
6:12		RJ Davis misses two point jump shot
6:10		Demon Deacons defensive rebound
6:10		Ven-Allen Lubin personal foul (Efton Reid III draws the foul)
6:10	+1	Efton Reid III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-56
6:10		Efton Reid III misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:10		Jalen Washington defensive rebound
5:43		Drake Powell misses two point jump shot
5:41		Juke Harris defensive rebound
5:12		Efton Reid III misses three point jump shot
5:10		Tre'Von Spillers offensive rebound
4:50		Cameron Hildreth misses two point layup
4:48		Tre'Von Spillers offensive rebound
4:45		Cameron Hildreth misses three point jump shot
4:43		Jalen Washington defensive rebound
4:35	+3	Jae'Lyn Withers makes three point jump shot (Ian Jackson assists)	57-56
4:13		Tre'Von Spillers misses three point jump shot
4:11		Jalen Washington defensive rebound
4:03		Jae'Lyn Withers misses three point jump shot
4:01		Efton Reid III defensive rebound
3:35		Juke Harris misses three point jump shot
3:33		Demon Deacons offensive rebound
3:32		Jalen Washington personal foul (Efton Reid III draws the foul)
3:32		TV timeout
3:32	+1	Efton Reid III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-57
3:32		Efton Reid III misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:32		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
3:14		Juke Harris shooting foul (Ven-Allen Lubin draws the foul)
3:14		Ven-Allen Lubin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:14	+1	Ven-Allen Lubin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-57
3:01		Ven-Allen Lubin blocks Hunter Sallis's two point layup
2:59		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
2:43	+3	RJ Davis makes three point jump shot (Jae'Lyn Withers assists)	61-57
2:36		Demon Deacons 30 second timeout
2:21		Tre'Von Spillers misses two point layup
2:19		Demon Deacons offensive rebound
2:19		Cameron Hildreth turnover (out of bounds)
2:04	+2	Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point dunk (Elliot Cadeau assists)	63-57
1:51	+2	Hunter Sallis makes two point jump shot	63-59
1:29		Jae'Lyn Withers misses three point jump shot
1:27		Ven-Allen Lubin offensive rebound
1:27	+2	Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point dunk	65-59
1:27		Tar Heels 30 second timeout
1:13		Ven-Allen Lubin blocks Cameron Hildreth's two point layup
1:11		Tar Heels defensive rebound
0:43		Elliot Cadeau misses two point layup
0:41		Efton Reid III defensive rebound
0:37		Cameron Hildreth misses three point jump shot
0:34		Hunter Sallis turnover (bad pass) (Drake Powell steals)
0:31		Parker Friedrichsen personal foul (Seth Trimble draws the foul)
0:31		Seth Trimble misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:31	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-59
0:25		Hunter Sallis misses three point jump shot
0:23		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
0:16		Hunter Sallis personal foul (RJ Davis draws the foul)
0:16	+1	RJ Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-59
0:16	+1	RJ Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-59
0:10		Hunter Sallis misses two point jump shot
0:08		RJ Davis defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

RJ Davis defensive rebound