RJ Davis scores 30 as No. 12 Tar Heels erase 21-point deficit to beat Dayton 92-90
RJ Davis scores 30 as No. 12 Tar Heels erase 21-point deficit to beat Dayton 92-90
North Carolina guard RJ Davis (4) goes to the basket against Dayton guard Javon Bennett (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
North Carolina guard RJ Davis celebrates a 92-90 win over Dayton in an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dayton forward Nate Santos (2) reacts after tying the game against North Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dayton guard Posh Alexander, left, fouls North Carolina guard RJ Davis (4) as Dayton forward Amael L’Etang (29) guards during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dayton forward Zed Key dunks against North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) goes up for a basket against Dayton guard Javon Bennett (0) and forward Nate Santos (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
North Carolina guard RJ Davis (4) goes to the basket against Dayton guard Javon Bennett (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
North Carolina guard RJ Davis (4) goes to the basket against Dayton guard Javon Bennett (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
North Carolina guard RJ Davis celebrates a 92-90 win over Dayton in an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
North Carolina guard RJ Davis celebrates a 92-90 win over Dayton in an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dayton forward Nate Santos (2) reacts after tying the game against North Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dayton forward Nate Santos (2) reacts after tying the game against North Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dayton guard Posh Alexander, left, fouls North Carolina guard RJ Davis (4) as Dayton forward Amael L’Etang (29) guards during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dayton guard Posh Alexander, left, fouls North Carolina guard RJ Davis (4) as Dayton forward Amael L’Etang (29) guards during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dayton forward Zed Key dunks against North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dayton forward Zed Key dunks against North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) goes up for a basket against Dayton guard Javon Bennett (0) and forward Nate Santos (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) goes up for a basket against Dayton guard Javon Bennett (0) and forward Nate Santos (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — RJ Davis scored 30 points, Seth Trimble added 27, and No. 12 North Carolina come back from a 21-point deficit for a 92-90 win over Dayton in the Maui Invitational on Monday night.
The Tar Heels (4-1) outscored the Flyers 59-39 in the second half and took the lead for good at 88-87 on Drake Powell’s 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:13 remaining.
Davis scored 20 points after halftime, including four 3-pointers. The All-American guard shot 10 of 11 free throws and also had seven rebounds and five assists. Trimble shot 10 of 14 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds. Elliot Cadeau scored 10 points.
Nate Santos scored 15 points to lead Dayton (5-1), which led 51-33 at halftime.
Takeaways
Dayton: The Flyers held a 28-4 advantage in bench points by halftime and finished with a 33-13 margin for the game, but were unable to overcome North Carolina’s 27-of-34 shooting from the free-throw line.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels clamped down defensively after they allowed the Flyers to shoot better than 51%t (19 of 37) from the field in the first half. Dayton was limited to 35% (13 of 37) on second-half field goals.
Key moment
Dayton appeared to tie it at 90 on a 3-pointer by Santos in the left corner, but it was determined after a video review that his foot was on the line. Instead his 2-pointer cut the North Carolina lead to one and Davis made a pair of free throws with 4.3 seconds to play to stretch it to 92-89.
Key stat
Dayton scored 19 points off of 12 North Carolina turnovers in the first half, but managed only two points off of three turnovers by the Heels after the break.
Up next
North Carolina will play No. 4 Auburn in Tuesday’s semifinals, while Dayton will take on No. 5 Iowa State.
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