UNC defeats Charlotte 89-82 in overtime exhibition

North Carolina held off Charlotte 89-82 in overtime to win the exhibition finale on Tuesday. The Heels closed the extra period with a perfect 4-for-4 shooting stretch, capping a 9-0 run after Charlotte missed its final seven attempts.

A timeout called by Charlotte that they did not have gave Terrence Brown a chance to tie the game with a free throw, sending the contest into overtime. Coach Michael Malone was expected to critique the defensive effort, noting Charlotte shot 44.6 percent overall and 54.5 percent in the second half, while UNC struggled with rebounding, being outrebounded 36-30.

Key moments included Charlotte converting ten offensive rebounds into 18 points, and a sequence with 5:15 left when Keyshaun Tillery missed a free throw but Charlotte secured two offensive boards to take a two-point lead. Tillery finished with 24 points.

UNC played without Matt Able, who was not in uniform, and remains without Cameron Fens pending eligibility clearance. Charlotte head coach Wes Miller and assistant Marcus Paige received a strong ovation before the game.

The first half saw Charlotte build a 25-10 lead, shooting efficiently from three and the field. UNC turned the tide after a dunk by Neo Avdalas at the 4:08 mark, and Maximo Adams hit a three-pointer just before halftime to narrow the gap.

Terrence Brown led UNC with 27 points on 18 shots, joined by Jaydon Young (11 points), Neo Avdalas (16 points, nine rebounds, five assists), Sayon Keita (12 points) and Jarin Stevenson (12 points). Alex Samodurov contributed a notable defensive and offensive stretch in the second half.

The Tar Heels open the regular season against Western Carolina on Monday at 7 p.m., beginning a six-game home stretch at the Smith Center. The ticket office announced new flexible pass options that can be exchanged for any available seat.