This will be a weekend to forget for the UNC men’s basketball program in Portland.
After losing to Iowa State on Friday, the Tar Heels were looking to at least leave the Phil Knight Invitational with a winning record. But Alabama had other ideas in the third-place game.
The Crimson Tide pulled off the upset in four overtimes, finally getting a bucket at the end and a stop to seal the 103-101. It’s a tough loss for the Tar Heels who are now 5-2 on the year and have a tough upcoming few weeks.
The two teams exchanged the lead a few different times in the first half as Alabama took a 37-34 lead at the break.
In the second half, UNC turned it up a bit despite Pete Nance picking up his fourth foul with just under 18 minutes to go. Hubert Davis turned to his bench for some valuable minutes as Puff Johnson, and D’Marco Dunn got key minutes.
The Tar Heels pulled ahead in the second, holding a 69-63 lead at the 7:58 mark. But Alabama battled back and tied it at 71-71. The two teams battled down the stretch as UNC held a 77-76 lead late. But two shots from Love were missed opening the door for Alabama as they split a pair of free throws.
The Crimson Tide’s attempt with just 3 seconds left fell short and the two teams went to overtime. Both teams were sloppy in the first overtime and it was UNC’s turn to have the last shot. But like Alabama, Love’s shot fell short and we went to the second overtime.
After another back-and-forth overtime, the two teams couldn’t settle it. And we went to a third overtime as it was Alabama’s turn to have their final shot fall short.
The Tar Heels opened up the third overtime on a 6-0 run to take a 95-89 lead but after Alabama rallied, the teams went to another overtime. In a back-and-forth, UNC couldn’t get a key bucket late as Caleb Love’s floater was blocked and R.J. Davis’ last-second heave fell short.
UNC had another chance late after a turnover by Alabama but the Tar Heels committed a turnover of their own that eventually sent the Crimson Tide to the free-throw line.
Love finished the game with a career-high 34 points, taking 36 shots. Davis had 19 while Armando Bacot had 20.
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