# SEC Men's Basketball: Georgia Bulldogs Defeats North Carolina Tar Heels 78-70

**Published:** 2026-11-13 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield
**Category:** games — **Type:** game-recap
**Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/sec-men-s-basketball-georgia-bulldogs-defeats-north-carolina-tar-heels-78-70

**Teams:** [Georgia](https://secscouts.com/georgia/)

**Players:** [Blue Cain](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5174661/blue-cain), [Kanon Catchings](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5243212/kanon-catchings), [Marcus Millender](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5176681/marcus-millender), [James Scott](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5102798/james-scott)


---

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.

---

*Original article: [SEC Men's Basketball: Georgia Bulldogs Defeats North Carolina Tar Heels 78-70](https://secscouts.com/news/sec-men-s-basketball-georgia-bulldogs-defeats-north-carolina-tar-heels-78-70) — SEC Scouts*