North Carolina Holds Off Louisville in Tight ACC Matchup

Tar Heels fend off late Cardinals comeback attempt to win 77-74

Feb. 24, 2026 at 5:26am

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In a close ACC men's basketball matchup, the No. 18 North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the No. 24 Louisville Cardinals 77-74 on Monday night. UNC's Seth Trimble scored a career-high 30 points, including two key free throws late to seal the victory. The Tar Heels built a 16-point second-half lead but had to hold off a furious Louisville comeback attempt in the final minutes.

Why it matters

This was an important conference game between two ranked ACC teams fighting for position in the standings. North Carolina was able to bounce back from a recent loss and protect its home court, while Louisville missed an opportunity to pick up a marquee road win.

The details

North Carolina shot 53.6% from the field for the game, led by Trimble's big night. The Tar Heels used a 17-2 run to build a 56-40 lead in the second half, but Louisville battled back and cut the deficit to 74-71 late. Trimble's clutch free throws in the final seconds helped UNC hold on. Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell combined for 47 points in the losing effort.

  • The game was played on Monday, February 23, 2026.
  • North Carolina used a 17-2 run early in the second half to build a 16-point lead.

The players

Seth Trimble

A standout junior guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels who scored a career-high 30 points in the win.

Mikel Brown Jr.

A highly touted freshman forward for the Louisville Cardinals who scored 24 points in the losing effort.

Ryan Conwell

A senior guard for the Louisville Cardinals who added 23 points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to close out games better, but I'm proud of the fight our team showed to battle back in the second half.”

— Kenny Payne, Louisville Head Coach

“Seth was phenomenal tonight and really carried us when we needed it most. This was a gutsy win against a tough conference opponent.”

— Hubert Davis, North Carolina Head Coach

What’s next

North Carolina will host Virginia Tech on Saturday, while Louisville will visit Clemson on the same day.

The takeaway

This back-and-forth ACC clash highlighted the competitiveness of the conference this season, with both teams showcasing young talent that will be key to their futures. North Carolina was able to make the winning plays down the stretch to secure an important home victory.