Georgia
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (11/12/2026) — Kanon Catchings delivered a commanding double-double performance as the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 78-70 Thursday night at the Dean E. Smith Center, outrebounding the hosts 52-43 and holding on through a tightly contested second half before 16,041 fans.
How It Happened
The game opened with UNC holding a brief early advantage — Terrence Brown converted from the free-throw line, then drained a 23-foot triple off a Matt Able assist to push the Tar Heels ahead 7-2 by the 17:30 mark. Georgia answered quickly. Catchings finished an emphatic 1-foot dunk at 16:38 to trim the deficit to one, then Blue Cain dropped a 25-foot step-back three-pointer 30 seconds later to give the Bulldogs their first lead at 9-7.
The first half featured relentless swings through 10 lead changes and five ties. Brown kept North Carolina competitive with a 26-footer at 12:33 and a 24-footer at 4:04 — the second of which gave the Tar Heels a 28-27 edge with under four minutes remaining. But Georgia closed the half with authority. Catchings buried a 24-foot three to push the Bulldogs back in front at 32-31, then Brady Dunlap — assisted by Marcus Millender — knocked down a 23-footer to extend the lead to 35-31. With 28 seconds left, Catchings launched and connected on a 28-foot three-pointer to send Georgia into the locker room ahead 38-31.
The second half brought continued drama. North Carolina chipped away and eventually recaptured the lead at the 15:00 mark when Brown drilled a 26-footer off a Neo Avdalas assist to put the Tar Heels up 48-45. A Jarin Stevenson tip-in dunk at 14:10 extended UNC's advantage to 50-45. Then Andrew Osasuyi converted an alley-oop finish off a Catchings feed at 13:25 — making it 52-50 North Carolina — with the game very much in the balance.
From that point, Georgia's depth and rebounding advantage proved decisive. The Bulldogs held a 52-43 edge on the boards — anchored by James Scott's 10-rebound performance — and slowly reclaimed control, outscoring the Tar Heels down the stretch to close out the 78-70 victory.
Turning Point
The defining sequence came in the final three-plus minutes of the first half. Trailing 30-29 after a Maximo Adams layup, Georgia went on a decisive closing burst. Catchings hit a three to put the Bulldogs back in front, Dunlap immediately added another long-range make, and Catchings capped the surge with a deep bomb as the half expired. That 9-point run — turning a one-point deficit into a 38-31 lead — forced North Carolina to spend the second half in pursuit mode rather than dictating pace.
Star of the Game
Kanon Catchings was Georgia's unquestioned engine. The Bulldogs forward posted 22 points and 11 rebounds — a double-double — while distributing 3 assists. His first-half three-point barrage proved pivotal: back-to-back triples in the closing two minutes, including a 28-footer at the buzzer, punctuated Georgia's decisive run. Blue Cain provided an equally dangerous second option with 20 points and 7 rebounds, connecting on multiple threes throughout the contest. Marcus Millender rounded out Georgia's formidable top three with 17 points and 7 rebounds, while Scott's quiet 10-board effort anchored the Bulldogs' rebounding dominance.
For North Carolina, Brown led all scorers with 21 points on the strength of multiple long-range makes, and Avdalas contributed 14. But the Tar Heels' 33% field goal shooting and 24% clip from three — well below Brown's individual production — limited their ability to sustain momentum when it mattered most.
What It Means
For the Georgia Bulldogs, the road victory at the Dean E. Smith Center represents a strong early-season statement. Georgia demonstrated both offensive balance — three players scoring 17 or more — and rebounding muscle, outworking North Carolina on the glass by nine boards despite playing away from home.
For the Tar Heels, the loss highlights an area requiring attention: when Brown was not generating offense from deep, North Carolina struggled to find consistent answers. The Tar Heels will look to build greater perimeter depth as the season progresses.
