UNC Leads Louisville at Halftime in Ranked Matchup

Tar Heels' Seth Trimble shines as UNC looks to secure ACC tournament bye

Feb. 24, 2026 at 1:03am

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No. 18 UNC men's basketball leads No. 24 Louisville 39-38 at halftime in a ranked matchup at the Dean E. Smith Center. Senior guard Seth Trimble has led the way for the Tar Heels, scoring 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting. UNC has played strong defense to limit Louisville's star freshman Mikel Brown Jr., who has 13 points. The Tar Heels will look to maintain their offensive efficiency and contain Brown in the second half to secure a key conference win.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for UNC's chances at earning a double-bye in the upcoming ACC tournament. A win over the ranked Cardinals would be a big boost to the Tar Heels' tournament resume. Additionally, the matchup features two of the top teams in the ACC, making it an important conference clash.

The details

Despite an early 10-point deficit, UNC was able to battle back and regain the lead in a back-and-forth first half. The Tar Heels have shot an impressive 61% from the field, led by Trimble's strong play. On the defensive end, UNC has focused on limiting Louisville star freshman Mikel Brown Jr., who had 10 quick points but has been held in check since. The Tar Heels will need to maintain their offensive efficiency and defensive intensity in the second half to hold off the Cardinals.

  • The game is being played on February 24, 2026.

The players

Seth Trimble

A senior guard for UNC who has scored 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting in the first half.

Mikel Brown Jr.

A first-year guard for Louisville who is the team's leading scorer, tallying 13 points in the first half.

Henri Veesaar

A junior center for UNC who the Tar Heels will look to get more involved in the second half.

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What they’re saying

“Trimble was the guy offensively for the Tar Heels in the first half.”

— Alex Yang, Author

“Continuing to play him far away and forcing Louisville to rely on its other scorers and playmakers will be necessary entering the second half of what should be a tightly-contested finish.”

— Alex Yang, Author

What’s next

The Tar Heels will look to maintain their lead and secure a key conference win over the ranked Cardinals in the second half.

The takeaway

This game is a crucial test for UNC as they look to improve their ACC tournament seeding. The Tar Heels' strong first-half performance, led by Seth Trimble, has them in position to earn a signature win, but they'll need to maintain their defensive intensity and offensive efficiency in the second half to hold off a talented Louisville squad.