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Wilson, Stevenson rally No. 22 North Carolina past No. 14 Virginia 85-80

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Caleb Wilson scored 20 points, Jarin Stevenson added all of his 17 in the second half and No. 22 North Carolina rallied past No. 14 Virginia 85-80 on Saturday for a big ACC road victory.

Trailing by two points with 3:50 to play, Carolina got three-point plays from Stevenson and Seth Trimble to build a 78-74 lead, then hung on. The Tar Heels outscored the Cavaliers 18-9 over the final 5:25.

Thijs DeRidder had 20 points and seven rebounds for UVA, which saw its 11-game home winning streak snapped.

Virginia led by 16 in the first half and went to the locker room ahead 43-34. That lead was thanks, in part, to a 26-16 rebounding edge that helped the Cavaliers score 14 second-chance points in the first 20 minutes.

But the Tar Heels rallied after the break, executing crisp, efficient offense and taking their first lead since the game’s opening minutes on a dunk by Stevenson with 11:57 to go. That put UNC up 59-58. They’d go ahead by as many as five.

Virginia evened the score on a tough, baseline layup by Chance Mallory, making it 67-all with 7:58 left. It went ahead less than a minute later on a basket by DeRidder, only to see the Tar Heels make their late push for the win.

Up next

North Carolina: The Tar Heels go on the road to Georgia Tech next Saturday.

Virginia: The Cavaliers play at Notre Dame on Tuesday.

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Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Wilson, Stevenson rally No. 22 North Carolina past No. 14 Virginia 85-80 | iNFOnews.ca
North Carolina guard Derek Dixon (3) takes a jump shot againt Virginia during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)
Wilson, Stevenson rally No. 22 North Carolina past No. 14 Virginia 85-80 | iNFOnews.ca
North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson (8) reacts to the camera against Virginia during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)
Wilson, Stevenson rally No. 22 North Carolina past No. 14 Virginia 85-80 | iNFOnews.ca
North Carolina forward Zayden High (1) shoots over Virginia center Johann Gruenloh (17) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)

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