Belmont extended a 41-34 halftime lead to 11 at 55-44 five minutes into the second half. But over the next eight minutes the Tar Heels seemed to right the ship with a 21-5 run to take a 65-60 lead with 6:54 left.
The Heels still led by eight at 78-70 with two and a half minutes left.
That’s when Mann took over. First he hit two free throws in a one-and-one situation and then, following a Tar Heels turnover after burning clock, Mann took advantage of a screen to drain a three with 1:01 to go to make it 78-75.
Marcus Paige hit a couple of free throws for Carolina but Mann came right back with a three from the right side with 53 seconds left to pull Belmont to 80-78.
UNC burned clock again but then Paige lost the ball drive to the hoop at the end of the shot clock with 20 seconds to go.
Just seven seconds later, Mann popped in the go ahead basket with 13 seconds left.
While Mann scored a career-high 28 points, the team as a whole scored 15 threes and 20 of 22 free throws. UNC on the other hand hit just 22 of 48 free throws and a mere two of seven three pointers.
Brice Johnson, who scored 14 off the bench for the Heels, summed it up this way, “When you miss 26 free throws, that’s the ball game right there.”
It was the first non-conference loss for the Heels at home since 2005.
For more, please click here.