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A late-night surge at Stanford Stadium stunned the college basketball world when the Cardinal erased a double-digit second-half deficit to topple No. 14 North Carolina 95-90. The comeback featured a flurry of triples and clutch plays that shifted momentum in a matter of minutes.
How Stanford overturned a 12-point hole to beat a top-15 opponent
Trailing by as many as 12 points after the break, Stanford mounted a relentless comeback fueled by hot shooting and tight defense. The Cardinal trimmed the margin and then seized control in the final minutes.
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- Stanford rallied from down 12 in the second half.
- The Cardinal used a decisive late run to take the lead and hold it.
- North Carolina led for most of the contest but could not close.
The three-point onslaught that changed the game
Stanford caught fire from distance and punished the Tar Heels all night. The team finished a blistering 16-of-28 from 3-point range, including 10 triples after halftime. That cold streak from long range sank North Carolina’s hopes.
Why the perimeter attack mattered
- The Cardinal’s volume and accuracy forced UNC to chase and scramble defensively.
- North Carolina surrendered the most made 3s it has allowed during coach Hubert Davis’ tenure.
- Those long-range buckets erased the halftime cushion and flipped momentum late.
Decisive possessions: clutch shots and a turnover
The closing sequence sealed the upset. With 1:04 remaining, Jeremy Dent-Smith knocked down a go-ahead 3 to put Stanford in front. A North Carolina turnover on the next trip handed Stanford another chance. Ryan Agarwal then buried a dagger from deep with 32 seconds left.
- Dent-Smith’s go-ahead 3 with 1:04 was his sixth triple of the night.
- Caleb Wilson’s turnover on the ensuing possession shifted momentum sharply.
- Agarwal’s 3 at 0:32 extended the lead and was followed by free throws to finish the scoring.
Key players and box-score highlights
Stanford leaned on a dominant performance from its primary playmaker while role players supplied huge scoring bursts.
- Ebuka Okorie: 36 points and 9 assists, the catalyst for the comeback.
- Jeremy Dent-Smith: 20 points, including six made triples.
- Ryan Agarwal: 20 points and the late-game dagger from beyond the arc.
- Caleb Wilson (UNC): 26 points but a crucial turnover down the stretch.
- Henri Veesaar (UNC): 26 points, one of two leading scorers for the Tar Heels.
Stanford managed the upset despite missing its second-leading scorer, who sat out with a lower-body injury.
Implications for both teams in the ACC
Stanford improved to 14-4 overall and 3-2 in ACC play with the road-style resilience on display. North Carolina fell to 14-3 and 2-2 in conference games, leaving questions about late-game execution despite a strong offensive showing from its young stars.
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