North Carolina Tar Heels Defeat Virginia Cavaliers 85-80
Saturday, January 24, 2026, 12:00 PM ET · John Paul Jones Arena
North Carolina Tar Heels 85, Virginia Cavaliers 80, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won North Carolina Tar Heels vs Virginia Cavaliers?
North Carolina Tar Heels beat Virginia Cavaliers 85-80 at John Paul Jones Arena on January 24, 2026.
Who was favored in North Carolina Tar Heels vs Virginia Cavaliers?
Virginia Cavaliers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -290 (about 74% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling encounter at the John Paul Jones Arena, the North Carolina Tar Heels edged out the Virginia Cavaliers with a final score of 85-80. This victory is significant as it marks the Tar Heels' first win against the Cavaliers in their last meeting, having lost 66-81 in the previous season. Both teams entered the game with strong records, with Virginia boasting a home record of 16-3 and North Carolina at 16-4. The matchup was highly anticipated given the competitive nature of both teams in the NCAAB league this season.
Virginia Cavaliers have been in impressive form, winning nine out of their last ten games, with a current winning streak of five. They averaged 81.1 points scored per game while allowing 66.5 points over this stretch. Their recent games included victories against teams like the SMU Mustangs and Louisville Cardinals, showcasing their offensive capabilities and solid defense. At home, they maintained a perfect record of 6-0, which added to the excitement surrounding this fixture.
Conversely, the North Carolina Tar Heels have also shown strong performance, with a record of 7-3 in their last ten games and a recent win against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where they scored 91 points. They averaged 83.5 points scored and allowed 73.6 points during this period. However, their away record was less impressive, standing at 1-3, which raised questions about their ability to perform on the road against a formidable opponent like Virginia.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any significant player absences for either team, suggesting that both sides were at full strength for this crucial matchup. The betting market reflected the tight contest, with DraftKings setting the spread at UVA -6.5, indicating that the Cavaliers were favored to win by a narrow margin. The total points line was set at 152.5, which suggests expectations for a high-scoring affair.
The game conditions were conducive to a competitive match, and both teams delivered an exciting performance. The scoring plays in the second half were particularly noteworthy, with North Carolina making several key shots that helped them secure the lead. Notable moments included a 25-foot three-point jumper by Jarin Stevenson and a driving layup by Dallin Hall, which contributed to their scoring run.
As the game progressed, North Carolina's ability to capitalize on free throws became crucial. They made several key free throws in the closing moments, including two by Malik Thomas and another by Luka Bogavac, which sealed their victory. The final moments of the game were tense, with Virginia attempting to rally back but ultimately falling short.
This matchup not only showcased the talent and resilience of both teams but also highlighted the competitive nature of college basketball, where every game can shift the momentum of a season. The Tar Heels' victory over the Cavaliers will be remembered as a pivotal moment in their campaign, while Virginia will look to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UVA -6.5 | 152.5 o -108 / u -112 | North Carolina Tar Heels +235 · Virginia Cavaliers -290 |
Leaders
- PointsThijs De Ridder20Virginia Cavaliers
- AssistsDallin Hall4Virginia Cavaliers
- ReboundsThijs De Ridder8Virginia Cavaliers
- PointsCaleb Wilson20North Carolina Tar Heels
- AssistsDerek Dixon7North Carolina Tar Heels
- ReboundsJonathan Powell7North Carolina Tar Heels
Recent form
Virginia Cavaliers
Last 10: 9-1Streak W581.1 scored · 66.5 allowed per game6-0 at home
- W72-68at SMU MustangsJan 17
- W79-70at Louisville CardinalsJan 14
- W70-55vs Stanford CardinalJan 10
- W84-60vs California Golden BearsJan 8
- W76-61at NC State WolfpackJan 3
- L85-95at Virginia Tech HokiesDec 31
- W95-51vs American University EaglesDec 22
- W80-72vs Maryland TerrapinsDec 20
- W84-60vs Maryland Eastern Shore HawksDec 10
- W86-73vs Dayton FlyersDec 6
North Carolina Tar Heels
Last 10: 7-3Streak W183.5 scored · 73.6 allowed per game1-3 away
- W91-69vs Notre Dame Fighting IrishJan 22
- L78-84at California Golden BearsJan 17
- L90-95at Stanford CardinalJan 15
- 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
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 | Virginia Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-61 | 29-64 |
| Field goal % | 49 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 10-22 | 8-27 |
| Three-point % | 45 | 30 |
| Free throws | 15-22 | 14-20 |
| Free throw % | 68 | 70 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 44 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 16 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 28 |
| Assists | 17 | 14 |
| Steals | 5 | 2 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 19 | 2 |
| Fast-break points | 21 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 40 |
| Fouls | 14 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 16 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 18 | 74 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half46-52Malik Thomas makes 24-foot three point jumper (Thijs De Ridder assists)
- 2nd Half49-52Derek Dixon makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half49-54Dallin Hall makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-54Caleb Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-54Caleb Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-54Luka Bogavac makes 10-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half53-56Jacari White makes driving layup (Chance Mallory assists)
- 2nd Half55-56Caleb Wilson makes driving layup (Derek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half55-57Chance Mallory makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-58Chance Mallory makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-58Jarin Stevenson makes layup (Jonathan Powell assists)
- 2nd Half59-58Jarin Stevenson makes 2-foot dunk (Henri Veesaar assists)
- 2nd Half60-58Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-58Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-60Dallin Hall makes driving layup
- 2nd Half63-60Derek Dixon makes driving layup
- 2nd Half63-62Sam Lewis makes 6-foot turnaround jump shot (Dallin Hall assists)
- 2nd Half65-62Seth Trimble makes 11-foot floating jump shot (Henri Veesaar assists)
- 2nd Half67-62Jarin Stevenson makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half67-63Malik Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-65Ugonna Onyenso makes 3-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half67-67Chance Mallory makes 10-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half67-69Thijs De Ridder makes 9-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half67-70Chance Mallory makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-71Chance Mallory makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-71Jarin Stevenson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Derek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half70-73Thijs De Ridder makes driving layup
- 2nd Half72-73Caleb Wilson makes 9-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half72-74Thijs De Ridder makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-74Jarin Stevenson makes driving layup (Luka Bogavac assists)
- 2nd Half75-74Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half77-74Seth Trimble makes driving layup
- 2nd Half78-74Seth Trimble makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half81-74Jarin Stevenson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Derek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half81-77Malik Thomas makes 24-foot three point jumper (Chance Mallory assists)
- 2nd Half81-79Dallin Hall makes driving layup
- 2nd Half83-79Caleb Wilson makes 7-foot step back jumpshot (Derek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half83-80Malik Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half84-80Derek Dixon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-80Luka Bogavac makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Virginia Cavaliers, below favours North Carolina Tar Heels.
Venue
- John Paul Jones ArenaCharlottesville, VA
- Attendance14637
- OfficialsMark Schnur, Roger Ayers, Tommy Morrissey
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