Saved for the moment: Jarin Stevenson's impact came when UNC needed it most

The first half rolled along in Charlottesville on Saturday afternoon, but Jarin Stevenson didn't see much action for UNC over the first 20 minutes of play.

In fact, the 6-foot-10 junior forward recorded just four minutes in the first half, an unusual amount of minutes given his role within Hubert Davis' rotation thus far this season. What was even more questionable was how Davis went to Zayden High as the first big man off the bench, which started raising a ton of questions regarding Stevenson.

Is he hurt?
Is he currently in the "dog house?"
Is there more to this than we know?

Regardless of how it transpired in the first half, Stevenson stayed ready for when his number was called. Davis called upon the Chapel Hill native in the second half, and once he did, it was nearly impossible to take him out of the game.

Stevenson's second-half impact

Especially with Henri Veesaar struggling on both ends of the floor (while dealing with foul trouble), the Tar Heels needed someone to step up to provide some production in the front court. Insert Stevenson, who arguably was the most important player on the floor during UNC's comeback victory over No. 14-ranked Virginia.

Without a doubt, it was a half of basketball to remember for Jarin Stevenson.

The junior scored 17 points (a new career-high) over his 12 minutes of action in the second half, connecting on some crucial shots down the stretch.

When UNC needed a timely basket or a big stop on the defensive end, it felt like Stevenson was the guy making it happen. What he did on Saturday afternoon was simple: be ready when your number is called and make the most of every second you get on the floor.

Hubert Davis on Stevenson's performance

Following the victory, Hubert Davis was asked about Stevenson's performance. The Tar Heels' head coach elaborated on what kept the junior forward on the court down the stretch.

"He can guard on the perimeter. He can guard on the post. He’s got size. He can move his feet offensively. We found a couple plays that worked for us that either got our guard going downhill, got Jarin open from three, or we got a little guy on Caleb down on the post by himself. And Jarin, in those times, stepped up and knocked down some big-time threes, and when Henri got in foul trouble and got his fourth, that was a lineup that we had in there. And I kept it throughout the rest of the game because it worked on both ends.”

It doesn't matter who starts...

Hubert Davis always says how it doesn't matter who starts the game, but who finishes it. On Saturday, there was no denying that Stevenson played his way onto the court down the stretch, as his career performance couldn't have come at a better time for North Carolina.

Now, with a comeback victory over No. 14-ranked UVA under their belt, the Tar Heels return to Chapel Hill, as Stevenson now has his own signature moment as a member of the UNC basketball program.