2024-11-09 12:20:03
(This story was updated to add new information.)
(This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.)
LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball survived a furious comeback Friday at home against UNC in a non-conference matchup to win 92-89.
The No. 1 Jayhawks led by as many as 20 points early, but No. 10 North Carolina made this a game again in the second half. This was the first game between these two sides since the 2022 national championship game in the NCAA tournament. Kansas won that matchup, and was able to again tonight because of the efforts of Hunter Dickinson, Zeke Mayo and more.
Here is what happened inside Allen Fieldhouse:
How to watch Kansas basketball play UNC in rematch of 2022 national championship game
UPDATE: 8:18 p.m. (CT): FINAL: Kansas 92, UNC 89
UPDATE: 8:13 p.m. (CT) Kansas leads 91-89 with 1:06 left in 2nd half
It remains a close one down the stretch, but Kansas has taken the lead back. The Jayhawks are up 91-89 with a little more than a minute left in the second half. Hunter Dickinson gave Kansas this lead with a bucket on an assist from Zeke Mayo, who leads all scorers with 21 points.
UPDATE: 8:04 p.m. (CT): UNC leads 86-83 with 3:30 left in 2nd half
It’s by no means time to panic for Kansas, but the Jayhawks are trailing with three and a half minutes left in the second half. UNC has out-scored Kansas by 18 points in the second half.
Something that should be a cause for concern, though, is two Kansas starters who are in foul trouble. Both Hunter Dickinson and Dajuan Harris Jr. will have to play the rest of the way with four fouls.
UPDATE: 7:49 p.m. (CT): Kansas leads 77-75 with 8:49 left in 2nd half
UNC is on a 9-0 run over the last minute-plus, and now trails by just two points. So far, North Carolina is 25-for-27 tonight from the free-throw line. Kansas, on the other hand, is just 7-for-11 in that regard.
UPDATE 7:37 p.m. (CT): Kansas leads 72-63 with 11:46 left in 2nd half
Kansas has started to find its form again, and still leads by nine points with a little under 12 minutes to go in regulation. The Jayhawks have seen Zeke Mayo shine here of late, and his latest jumper pushed him to 17 points. That leads both Kansas and all scorers so far tonight.
UPDATE: 7:26 p.m. (CT): Kansas leads 57-48 with 15:58 left in 2nd half
North Carolina has started the second half just as well as it started out the first, and trail by just nine points now. The Jayhawks are really struggling to hit shots. Kansas has also been lucky that, coming into this break in the action, that UNC has missed a couple of open 3s.
One statistic to keep an eye on is points off of turnovers. So far, Kansas has 10 points off of seven North Carolina turnovers. UNC has no points off of three Jayhawks turnovers.
UPDATE: 7:02 p.m. (CT): HALFTIME: Kansas 53, UNC 38
UPDATE: 6:46 p.m. (CT): Kansas leads 43-29 with 3:55 left in 1st half
Kansas has had to manage Hunter Dickinson having a pair of first half fouls, but it hasn’t hurt them much at all. The Jayhawks are up 14 points with less than four minutes left in the first half. When Flory Bidunga came in for some more minutes in Dickinson’s place, overall Bidunga played well.
Zeke Mayo’s hit a pair of 3s that have really gotten him, and the crowd, going. Rylan Griffen recently made one heck of a block defending a UNC shot. Fans have had plenty to cheer about here during the first half.
UPDATE: 6:22 p.m. (CT): Kansas leads 27-20 with 11:02 left in 1st half
Kansas is in control now, and has its largest lead at seven points. The Jayhawks have been able to get inside often against UNC, and have their fair share of dunks so far. KJ Adams Jr. and AJ Storr have both sent the fans inside Allen Fieldhouse into a frenzy.
Adams leads all scorers with 10 points. He’s 5-for-6 from the field. He, and his Kansas teammates overall, have been very efficient on offense.
UPDATE: 6:10 p.m. (CT): UNC leads 9-7 with 15:55 left in 1st half
UNC got off to a fast start, and led by as much as 7-2, but the Jayhawks have responded. A little more than four minutes into the first half, Kansas trails 9-7. RJ Davis leads North Carolina with five points.
On the Kansas side, KJ Adams Jr. leads the way with four points. Rylan Griffen hit a critical 3-pointer. Hunter Dickinson has missed both of his shots from the field so far.
Pregame
Here are Kansas’ and UNC’s starters
Shakeel Moore will not play tonight for Kansas
Kansas basketball vs UNC game time
- Date: Friday, Nov. 8
- Time: 6 p.m. (CT)
- Location: Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas
What channel is Kansas basketball vs UNC game on today?
Kansas basketball’s game against UNC will be broadcast on ESPN2. Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst), Eric Moseley (producer) and Mike Roig (director) will be on the call for the game at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. Streaming options include ESPN+.
Kansas basketball vs UNC betting line
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 8
- Odds: Kansas by 7.5
- O/U: 159.5
Kansas basketball vs UNC prediction
Kansas will be tested by UNC in this matchup. North Carolina features a lot of talent, especially in its back court. But the Jayhawks have the home-court advantage here, as well as a star in graduate center Hunter Dickinson who should lead them to an 81-71 victory.
Kansas basketball 2024-25 schedule
Here’s a look at the first five games of Kansas’ regular season. The full schedule is available online.
- Nov. 4 (home): Howard — Kansas won 87-57
- Nov. 8 (home): North Carolina
- Nov. 12 (neutral): Michigan State
- Nov. 16 (home): Oakland
- Nov. 19 (home): UNC-Wilmington
UNC basketball 2024-25 schedule
Here’s a look at the first five games of UNC’s regular season. The full schedule is available online.
- Nov. 4 (home): Elon — North Carolina won 90-76
- Nov. 8 (away): Kansas
- Nov. 15 (home): American
- Nov. 22 (away): Hawaii
- Nov. 25 (neutral): Dayton
Kansas basketball vs UNC score
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
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