Stanford Cardinal Outlast North Carolina Tar Heels 95-90
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Maples Pavilion
Stanford Cardinal 95, North Carolina Tar Heels 90, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
The next free pick, for your email
Team, bet, price and the hash it was sealed under, on this page the moment you send. Lose or win, it stays public.
or by email
Public record of the main pick, losses included: 115 won, 44 lost. See every pick
One free pick a day by email until you unsubscribe, in one click. 21+.
Quick answers
Who won North Carolina Tar Heels vs Stanford Cardinal?
Stanford Cardinal beat North Carolina Tar Heels 95-90 at Maples Pavilion on January 14, 2026.
Who was favored in North Carolina Tar Heels vs Stanford Cardinal?
North Carolina Tar Heels were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -198 (about 66% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup at Maples Pavilion, the Stanford Cardinal edged out the North Carolina Tar Heels with a final score of 95-90. This game was notable not only for its close scoreline but also for the competitive nature of both teams, each boasting strong records this season. Stanford entered the game with a home record of 14-4, while North Carolina held an impressive 14-3 record overall.
Both teams have shown varying forms leading into this contest. Stanford's recent performance has been a mix of highs and lows, as they held a record of 7-3 over their last ten games, although they were on a one-game losing streak prior to this matchup. Their scoring average during this stretch was 73.9 points per game, while they allowed 69.8 points. In contrast, North Carolina was riding a wave of momentum with an 8-2 record in their last ten games, including a one-game winning streak. The Tar Heels averaged 78.2 points scored and allowed 68.7 points during this period, indicating a potent offense that has been difficult for opponents to contain.
When comparing home and away performances, Stanford maintained a home record of 4-2 in their last six games, while North Carolina had a 6-1 record at home and a 2-1 record in away games. This home advantage for Stanford was crucial as they faced a formidable opponent in North Carolina, who had been performing well in their own right.
In terms of their previous meeting, Stanford had a narrow victory over North Carolina earlier in the season, winning 72-71 on January 18, 2025. This history added an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup, as both teams were looking to assert dominance over the other.
Injuries were not reported as a significant factor for either team in this game, allowing both squads to field their strongest lineups. The absence of key players can often sway the outcome of such tightly contested games, but both teams appeared to be at full strength.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, favored North Carolina with a spread of 4.5 points, reflecting the belief that they would come out on top. The total points line was set at 147.5, suggesting an expectation of a high-scoring affair, which ultimately proved accurate given the final score.
Conditions during the game were typical for a mid-January evening in California, with a lively atmosphere in Maples Pavilion as fans rallied behind their home team. The energy in the arena likely contributed to the competitive spirit displayed by both teams throughout the game.
Key moments in the game included several critical scoring plays in the second half. Notably, Jeremy Dent-Smith made a pivotal 26-foot three-point jumper, bringing the score to 88-87 in favor of North Carolina at one point. However, Stanford responded with a series of free throws and another three-pointer from Ryan Agarwal, which helped them regain and maintain the lead. The final moments saw Stanford securing their victory with clutch free throws from Benny Gealer, sealing the game at 95-90.
Overall, this matchup not only showcased the talent and resilience of both teams but also provided fans with an exciting display of college basketball. The victory for Stanford could have implications for their confidence moving forward, while North Carolina will look to bounce back in their upcoming games.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UNC -4.5 | 147.5 o -115 / u -105 | North Carolina Tar Heels -198 · Stanford Cardinal +164 |
Leaders
- PointsEbuka Okorie36Stanford Cardinal
- AssistsEbuka Okorie9Stanford Cardinal
- ReboundsRyan Agarwal6Stanford Cardinal
- PointsCaleb Wilson26North Carolina Tar Heels
- AssistsCaleb Wilson2North Carolina Tar Heels
- ReboundsCaleb Wilson9North Carolina Tar Heels
Recent form
Stanford Cardinal
Last 10: 7-3Streak L173.9 scored · 69.8 allowed per game4-2 at home
- L55-70at Virginia CavaliersJan 10
- W69-68at Virginia Tech HokiesJan 8
- W80-76vs Louisville CardinalsJan 3
- L40-47vs Notre Dame Fighting IrishDec 31
- W88-80vs Cal State Northridge MatadorsDec 28
- W77-68at Colorado BuffaloesDec 21
- W76-60vs UT Arlington MavericksDec 18
- W86-82at San José State SpartansDec 14
- L74-75vs UNLV RebelsDec 7
- W94-72vs Portland PilotsDec 2
North Carolina Tar Heels
Last 10: 8-2Streak W178.2 scored · 68.7 allowed per game2-1 away
- W87-84vs Wake Forest Demon DeaconsJan 10
- L83-97at SMU MustangsJan 3
- W79-66vs Florida State SeminolesDec 31
- W99-51vs East Carolina PiratesDec 23
- W71-70at Ohio State BuckeyesDec 20
- W77-58vs East Tennessee State BuccaneersDec 17
- W80-62vs South Carolina Upstate SpartansDec 13
- W81-61vs Georgetown HoyasDec 7
- W67-64at Kentucky WildcatsDec 3
- L58-74vs Michigan State SpartansNov 27
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | North Carolina Tar Heels | Stanford Cardinal |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 32-55 | 32-56 |
| Field goal % | 58 | 57 |
| Three-pointers | 6-16 | 16-28 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 57 |
| Free throws | 20-32 | 15-23 |
| Free throw % | 63 | 65 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 23 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 2 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 21 |
| Assists | 7 | 20 |
| Steals | 4 | 6 |
| Blocks | 2 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 17 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 7 | 16 |
| Points in the paint | 38 | 28 |
| Fouls | 17 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 12 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 95 | 4 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half61-51Henri Veesaar makes 17-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half63-51Caleb Wilson makes 13-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half63-53AJ Rohosy makes 6-foot hook shot (Benny Gealer assists)
- 2nd Half63-55Ebuka Okorie makes driving layup
- 2nd Half65-55Henri Veesaar makes layup
- 2nd Half65-57Ebuka Okorie makes layup
- 2nd Half65-60Ebuka Okorie makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half67-60Luka Bogavac makes 16-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half67-61AJ Rohosy makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-64Jeremy Dent-Smith makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ebuka Okorie assists)
- 2nd Half69-64Caleb Wilson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-64Caleb Wilson makes 6-foot dunk
- 2nd Half71-66AJ Rohosy makes driving layup (Jeremy Dent-Smith assists)
- 2nd Half73-66Luka Bogavac makes driving layup
- 2nd Half73-69Jeremy Dent-Smith makes 29-foot three point jumper (Cameron Grant assists)
- 2nd Half74-69Luka Bogavac makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-69Luka Bogavac makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-72Jeremy Dent-Smith makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half77-72Caleb Wilson makes layup
- 2nd Half77-74Ebuka Okorie makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half79-74Henri Veesaar makes layup
- 2nd Half79-77Jeremy Dent-Smith makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ebuka Okorie assists)
- 2nd Half81-77Henri Veesaar makes 6-foot dunk (Caleb Wilson assists)
- 2nd Half83-77Caleb Wilson makes 16-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half83-78Ebuka Okorie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half83-79Ebuka Okorie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-81Ebuka Okorie makes driving layup
- 2nd Half85-81Seth Trimble makes driving layup
- 2nd Half85-84Ryan Agarwal makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ebuka Okorie assists)
- 2nd Half86-84Caleb Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half87-84Caleb Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-85Ebuka Okorie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-88Jeremy Dent-Smith makes 26-foot three point jumper (Aidan Cammann assists)
- 2nd Half87-91Ryan Agarwal makes 26-foot three point jumper (Aidan Cammann assists)
- 2nd Half88-91Henri Veesaar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half88-92Ebuka Okorie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half88-93Ebuka Okorie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half90-93Seth Trimble makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half90-94Benny Gealer makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half90-95Benny Gealer makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Stanford Cardinal, below favours North Carolina Tar Heels.
Venue
- Maples PavilionStanford, CA
- Attendance5369
- OfficialsGregory Nixon, Bill Covington Jr., Jemel Spearman
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond