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

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.