UNC Basketball defeats No. 7 Oklahoma in the Jumpman Invitational

The UNC basketball program has faced arguably the toughest six-game stretch of any team in the country so far, as they capped it off with a huge victory over previously unbeaten and No. 7-ranked Oklahoma in the annual Jumpman Classic in Charlotte.

The Tar Heels got out to an early lead and didn't let it go, as they set the tempo early and often on Wednesday night.

Over the first 20 minutes of play, Hubert Davis' team set the tone defensively, recording six total blocks while forcing 10 Oklahoma turnovers. Overall, the Sooners coughed up the basketball a total of 20 times and were held to just 69 total points, as this is a unit that was averaging 84 points per contest coming into this game.

To no surprise, RJ Davis was outstanding once again, as he continued his elite play with a 23-point performance that also included five assists, four rebounds, and three steals. He was the leading scorer (again) for North Carolina and one of four players to score in double-figures

Hubert Davis wasn't shy about using his bench, as he mixed and matched with some different lineups we haven't seen thus far. Freshman Zayden High saw extended minutes, while three of the five Tar Heels reserves scored at least 14 points.

Oklahoma made a push late in the second half, cutting the Tar Heels lead to five, but North Carolina found a way to secure the double-digit victory.

Armando Bacot had a solid outing, recording 14 points and eight rebounds. He was a force in the paint, recording three blocks as well.

Cormac Ryan had another strong outing, as he scored 13 points and recorded seven rebounds. Harrison Ingram, who was limited due to foul trouble, hit some big second half shots en route to an 11-point performance, his 21st consecutive game scoring in double-digits.

No one expected the UNC basketball program to go unbeaten through this stretch, considering the quality of talent they were competing against. However, you have to be pleased with how this stretch went, as North Carolina gained some very valuable experience before conference play gets rolling after the holiday break.

The UNC basketball program has one more non-conference game, a home contest against Charleston Southern, on December 29 before they kick off a three-game ACC road trip to begin the 2024 calendar year.

Follow us @KeepingItHeel on X (formerly Twitter) and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of UNC basketball news, views, and updates.