UNC's Coby White led the Tar Heels with 33 points. (UNC Sports Information photo.)

Big plays late send Heels over Miami in Overtime

North Carolina used threes, a dunk, free throws and steals late to claw past Miami 88-85 in overtime in Chapel Hill. (2/9)

Down 75-71 with 45 seconds left, it wasn’t looking good for the home team. But freshman Coby White, calm and cool, hit a three in front of the Carolina bench to draw the Heels within a point. After Miami’s Zack Johnson scored with 20 seconds left, again it wasn’t looking good.

With White doing most of the scoring, Miami doubled teamed him in the closing seconds but UNC coach Roy Williams had drawn up a play for senior Luke Maye instead. An open Maye, who wasn’t having his best game of the season, drilled a three with 10 seconds left to tie the score.

Chris Lykes, who led Miami with 27 points, missed a three at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

With the score tied at 79-79, Kenny Williams, who had only two points prior, took a pass from White and sank a three in rhythm from the top of the key to give UNC an 82-79 lead with 2:05 left.

Miami’s Johnson cut the margin to one at 86-85 with 24 seconds left. Cam Johnson was fouled with 12 seconds left and he hit both free throws for an 88-85 lead.

The Hurricanes had 12 threes in the second half alone but didn’t get a chance for a 13th to tie it as White knocked the ball away from Lykes and Williams came up with it, passing to Brandon Robinson as time expired.

“I feel very lucky right now,” Coach Williams said adding that he called more plays in the last five minutes than he has all season.

“I questioned our team’s toughness – I think they answered it,” he said.

For more on the game, including a box score, please click here.

UNC's Coby White led the Tar Heels with 33 points. (UNC Sports Information photo.)
UNC’s Coby White led the Tar Heels with 33 points. (UNC Sports Information photo.)

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