NCAA Tournament Best UNC first and second round games of all-time

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Oklahoma Sooners (1990), Second Round (Round of 32)

The 1989-90 college basketball season was an up-and-down year for the Tar Heels. Although North Carolina won the ACC Tournament, they finished the season with a 21-13.

The NCAA committee awarded UNC the No. 8 seed  in the Midwest bracket.

In this bracket, the Oklahoma Sooners were the No. 1 seed in the Midwest. Likewise, the Sooners were the overall No. 1 seed in the entire tournament led by Skeeter Henry who averaged 17.3 points per game that season.

The Tar Heels competed with Oklahoma throughout the game. By halftime, North Carolina led 40-38.

The second half was no different than the first. Neither team held a big lead over the other team. The game continued to go back-and-forth.

Late in the game, the score was tied at 77 with eight seconds left in the game. UNC’s head coach Dean Smith drew up the play with point guard King Rice inbounding the ball.

Sophomore guard Hubert Davis received Rice’s pass and attempted to score; however, he was defended well. When Davis saw that he did not have a shot, he passed the ball to Rick Fox. Fox faked out his defender, then drove to the basket and scored the game-winning shot with no time remaining.

UNC defeated Oklahoma 79-77. North Carolina had four players in double figures and Fox finished the game with 23 points.

Pete Chilcutt had 17 points and five rebounds. Kevin Madden added 14 points. Rice had 12 points and seven assists.