Tar Heels punch ticket to Sweet 16 after blowing big lead

The UNC basketball program punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 by upsetting No. 1 Baylor in the East Region.

Whew.

Everyone take a deep breath. Relax. The North Carolina Tar Heels are going to the Sweet 16 following a dramatic win over Baylor on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Tar Heels built up a 25-point lead in the second half of Saturday’s win and watched it all come crashing down as the Bears rallied to tie the game and send it to overtime. After Brady Manek was ejected for an elbow and Caleb Love fouled out, UNC was down to freshman Dontrez Styles and transfer Justin McKoy to play key minutes down the stretch.

UNC blew that 25-point lead thanks to a combo of an offensive onslaught by the Bears plus some poor decision-making by the Tar Heels including struggling to get the ball inbounds. All the momentum was with Baylor and after Armando Bacot missed two free throws late, the Bears tied it with a three.

But in overtime, the Tar Heels held control.

Styles buried a three on the first possession and after Baylor tied it shortly after, Bacot and R.J. Davis went to work. The Tar Heels pulled off the upset beating Baylor 93-86.

Davis finished with a career-high 30 points to help pace the Tar Heels while Manek had 27 before being ejected with 10 minutes left in the second half.

UNC is going to their 30th Sweet 16, the most in NCAA Tournament history.