North Carolina vs. UCLA score: Tar Heels shock Bruins with wild late comeback from double-digit deficit

UNC rallied from 16 points down for a 76-74 victory vs. the No. 18 Bruins in the CBS Sports Classic

North Carolina came back from a 16-point second-half deficit to win it in the final seconds over No. 18 UCLA for a 76-74 victory in the CBS Sports Classic. The Tar Heels trailed the entire second half until RJ Davis made a go-ahead free throw with just over 13 seconds remaining.

It was a gutty performance from UNC led by a big day from freshman Ian Jackson, who had 24 points, and star senior RJ Davis, who had 17 points, in the win. 

It's hard to feel like it was anything other than a collapse for UCLA. Bruins had this one in the bag with Tyler Bilodeau and Sebastian Mack getting whatever they wanted on offense. But UCLA's typically-tough defense struggled down the stretch with Jackson, Davis and Seth Trimble all coming up clutch to key the comeback down the stretch.

UNC lost four of its last six games entering Saturday's game, making this one feel like a rare must-win game in December. And while there is still plenty to clean up, coach Hubert Davis seems to have found something in that second half, and that's momentum that could be significant as ACC play ramps into high gear in the coming weeks. 

[Dec 21, 2024 at 6:01 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Things go very, very wrong for Bruins

A lot had to go wrong for UCLA to cough up a lead of its size in the second half. And indeed, a lot did go wrong for UCLA. UCLA closed the game with no made field goals over the final 3:42, which was huge. Foul trouble also went against it with Skyy Clark fouling out and Lazar Stefanovic and Tyler Bilodeau finishing with four fouls. 

UNC caught fire to make matters all the worse. On top of UCLA making just two field goals in the final 10 minutes and missing seven free throws in that span, UNC made 14 of its 19 free throws in the second half and found ways time and again to get to the line or convert makable buckets. 

[Dec 21, 2024 at 6:00 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

How good is Ian Jackson?

The crown jewel of UNC's No. 6-ranked recruiting class in 2024, Jackson had a coming out party on the big stage with a season-high 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He had a little of everything in his bag from deep 3-pointers, to stepbacks, to circus-like finishes around the cup to keep UNC hanging around for the eventual win. He played a season-high 32 minutes coming off the bench, and made a strong case for earning his keep in the starting lineup. 

[Dec 21, 2024 at 6:00 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

UNC does the near-impossible

North Carolina led for a total of 50 seconds vs. UCLA in its CBS Sports Classic win while playing from behind for all but a few of the game's 40 minutes. That mattered not. With UCLA seemingly in cruise control in the second half, RJ Davis his Tar Heels teammates dug deep by diving to the basket, drilling big shots and delivering in crunch time for a comeback that at one point seemed impossible. 

[Dec 21, 2024 at 5:39 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Final: North Carolina 76, UCLA 74

North Carolina came back from a 16-point second-half deficit to win it in the final seconds over No. 18 UCLA 76-74. The Tar Heels trailed the entire second half until RJ Davis made a go-ahead free throw with just over 13 seconds remaining.

It was a gutty performance from UNC led by a big day from freshman Ian Jackson, who had 24 points, and star senior RJ Davis, who had 17 points, in the win. 

It's hard to feel like it was anything other than a collapse for UCLA. Bruins had this one in the bag with Tyler Bilodeau and Sebastian Mack getting whatever they wanted on offense. But UCLA's typically-tough defense struggled down the stretch with Jackson, Davis and Seth Trimble all coming up clutch to key the comeback down the stretch.

UNC lost four of its last six games entering today's game, making this one feel like a rare must-win game in December. And while there is still plenty to clean up, coach Hubert Davis seems to have found something in that second half, and that's momentum that could be significant as ACC play ramps into high gear in the coming weeks. 

[Dec 21, 2024 at 4:48 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Tyler Bilodeau cooking

Bilodeau scored UCLA's first 11 points of the game and has come on strong in the second half as the Bruins build their lead. He's already got 11 points in the second half and drilled all three of his 3-point attempts. He leads all scorers with 24 on the day. 

[Dec 21, 2024 at 4:35 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

U16 media timeout: UCLA 48, UNC 41

It was a close one at the half and it's still a close one at the first media timeout of the second half as No. 18 UCLA still leads, 48-41. Skyy Clark getting more involved and aggressive in this half already for UCLA, and RJ Davis making it a point to try and get going as well. 

[Dec 21, 2024 at 4:26 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

UNC-UCLA briefly delayed

If you were wondering why this second half hadn't started yet, we have the answer.

Apparently a fan vomited onto the floor and they are in the process of cleaning up the mess at MSG. Just going to go out on a limb here and guess they watched UNC's defensive lowlights at halftime from the last month.

[Dec 21, 2024 at 4:03 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

UCLA leading at the break

HALFTIME: UCLA 40, UNC 32

UCLA leads 40-32 over North Carolina at the half in New York after a big opening 20 minutes from Sebastian Mack and Tyler Bilodeau, who combined for 29 points to open the game. UNC freshman Ian Jackson with 13 points to keep the Tar Heels in the mix but the offense has otherwise struggled to get going in this one. 

[Dec 21, 2024 at 3:36 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

UCLA still on top early

U8 media timeout: UCLA 23, UNC 18

UCLA and its top-shelf defense have taken a backseat to its beautiful brand of offensive basketball thus far in this one. Bruins have eight assists on nine made field goals as part of their fast start, with Tyler Bilodeau -- who scored the first 11 points for UCLA -- held scoreless since. Ian Jackson leads all UNC players with six points on two made 3s. 

[Dec 21, 2024 at 3:16 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Lots of offense early

U16 media timeout: UCLA 11, UNC 9

UCLA and UNC are battling in a close one early as the Bruins take an 11-9 edge into the first media timeout of the game. UCLA had a 9-0 run and was up by seven early but UNC has battled back with some timely buckets from Ian Jackson and Drake Powell. 

Tyler Bilodeau thus far the ONLY scorer for UCLA. He has all 11 points for UCLA.

[Dec 21, 2024 at 2:47 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

We're about 20 minutes away from tip-off inside Madison Square Garden. 

Game will air on CBS but you can also follow along in the live blog here for updates or below:

• TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
• Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime (Try It Free)

[Dec 21, 2024 at 2:22 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

UCLA a narrow favorite vs. UNC

Betting odds in the CBS Sports Classic opener opened with No. 18 UCLA as a 2-point favorite over North Carolina, and that line has moved a half-point in UNC's favor down to UCLA -1.5. Very interesting. UNC's record (6-5) certainly doesn't reflect the talent of the team but Tar Heels have struggled of late on defensive end. Big test against this UCLA team that has size and skill on both ends. 

[Dec 21, 2024 at 1:39 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

UNC looking to remain unbeaten vs. UCLA in CBS Sports Classic

Good afternoon, all, and welcome to another wonderful Christmas tradition with the CBS Sports Classic on tap this today. UNC and UCLA will kick things off at 3 p.m. ET, where UCLA is looking to beat the Tar Heels for the first time in this Classic series. UNC is 2-0 vs. UCLA in the event since its inception in 2014. Last head-to-head was in 2019 when UNC won 74-64.