UNC Coach Hubert Davis Laments Late-Game Struggles in Win Over Syracuse

The Tar Heels blew a 32-point lead but held on to defeat the Orange 87-77.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 5:31am

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The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Syracuse Orange 87-77 on Monday night, extending their win streak to four games. However, head coach Hubert Davis expressed frustration with his team's late-game struggles, as the Tar Heels nearly blew a 32-point lead. Davis acknowledged his team's stretches of "brilliance" but also their tendency to make "multiple mistakes, consecutively" that they need to fix.

Why it matters

The Tar Heels' ability to maintain leads and close out games has been an issue they've battled all season, and Davis is determined to address this problem. As one of the top teams in the ACC, UNC's late-game execution will be crucial down the stretch and into the postseason.

The details

The Tar Heels built a 32-point lead early in the second half, outscoring the Orange 26-8. However, Syracuse mounted a furious comeback, cutting the deficit to just six points late in the game. Davis was disappointed with his team's defensive lapses, lack of execution, and inability to finish possessions and the game strongly.

  • The Tar Heels defeated the Syracuse Orange on Monday, February 2, 2026.
  • UNC built a 32-point lead early in the second half.

The players

Hubert Davis

The 55-year-old head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Kyan Evans

A guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Henri Veesaar

A center for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Jonathan Powell

A forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Jarin Stevenson

A forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

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What they’re saying

“We always talk about finishing possessions, finishing halves, finishing games, and that's just unacceptable. I thought we were playing really well on both ends of the floor. I felt defensively, we were getting better throughout the game, especially second half. I thought we responded and came out on both ends of the floor.”

— Hubert Davis, Head Coach, North Carolina Tar Heels

“We were on point, and Syracuse is a great basketball team. Coach Autry is a fantastic coach, and you can see they're extremely talented. But the last nine minutes and 32 seconds, just a departure of what allowed us to get the lead - taking good shots, taking care of the basketball, executing defensively, defending without fouling. Execution wise, defensively, boxing out, just different stuff like that, and they got it to six. And so we'll watch the film and learn from it.”

— Hubert Davis, Head Coach, North Carolina Tar Heels

“Maybe I should text them or tweet or, I don't know, the way that they communicate, but just the ability to stay locked in and be able to consistently do the things that are asked of you. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, but there's a level of consistency, individually and as a team, that needs to be there to be successful. And I think our team is learning.”

— Hubert Davis, Head Coach, North Carolina Tar Heels

What’s next

The Tar Heels will look to build on this win and continue improving their late-game execution as they move deeper into the ACC schedule and prepare for the postseason.

The takeaway

While the Tar Heels secured an important conference victory, the team's inability to maintain a large lead highlights an area they must address in order to reach their full potential this season. Coach Davis is committed to helping his players develop the focus and consistency needed to finish games strongly.