No. 1 Kansas blows big lead, holds off No. 9 North Carolina in tussle of hoops heavyweights
Top-ranked Kansas blew a 20-point first-half lead, then had to rally itself in the closing minutes for a 92-89 victory over No. 9 North Carolina on Friday night
By DAVE SKRETTA
Published - Nov 08, 2024, 11:23 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 05:32 PM EST
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Only a dozen times in their storied histories had North Carolina and Kansas met on the hardwood.
They made sure No. 13 would be memorable.
The top-ranked Jayhawks raced to a 20-point first-half lead Friday night, led by All-America center Hunter Dickinson and a highly touted class of transfers. And the ninth-ranked Tar Heels mounted a big second-half comeback, led by All-America guard R.J. Davis and the rest of their elite backcourt, eventually pulling ahead as time was winding down at Allen Fieldhouse.
But just as they have so often at the Phog, the Jayhawks made the plays that mattered in the end.
