North Carolina Dominates Notre Dame in 91-69 Victory
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Dean E. Smith Center
North Carolina Tar Heels 91, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 69, 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 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs North Carolina Tar Heels?
North Carolina Tar Heels beat Notre Dame Fighting Irish 91-69 at Dean E. Smith Center on January 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs North Carolina Tar Heels?
North Carolina Tar Heels were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1100 (about 92% implied). The favorite won.
The North Carolina Tar Heels secured a decisive 91-69 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Dean E. Smith Center. This matchup was particularly noteworthy as it showcased the contrasting fortunes of both teams, with North Carolina boasting a strong home record of 15-4 compared to Notre Dame's away record of 10-9.
In terms of recent form, North Carolina had a mixed bag leading into this game, with a record of 7-3 in their last ten games, although they were on a two-game losing streak prior to this victory. They averaged 82.5 points scored while allowing 72.8 points during this stretch. Their last five games reflected a scoring average of 83.4 points but also revealed a defensive vulnerability, allowing an average of 85.2 points.
On the other hand, Notre Dame entered the game struggling, having lost their last four games and holding a 5-5 record over their last ten. They averaged 71.8 points scored and 70.9 points allowed during this period. Their recent form was particularly concerning, with their last five games yielding an average of only 64.8 points scored and 71.6 points allowed.
The Tar Heels have proven to be formidable at home, maintaining an unbeaten home record of 6-0. In contrast, Notre Dame's away record stood at 2-2, indicating their struggles on the road. This game marked the third meeting between the two teams in the 2025 season, with North Carolina having won the previous two encounters, including a 76-56 victory earlier in the season.
Injuries were not highlighted in the block, suggesting both teams were at full strength for this matchup. The betting market, as presented by DraftKings, favored North Carolina significantly, with a spread of -13.5 and a moneyline of -1100 for the Tar Heels, while the Fighting Irish were set at +700.
Conditions in the Dean E. Smith Center were conducive to a high-scoring affair, and the game lived up to that expectation. North Carolina's offense was on full display, with standout plays including a 25-foot three-point jumper by Jarin Stevenson and multiple free throws by Evan Smith, contributing to the final score.
As the game progressed, North Carolina maintained control, with notable scoring plays in the second half that showcased their offensive depth. Sir Mohammed made impactful contributions with a layup and a pull-up jump shot, while Ryder Frost also added a three-pointer late in the game.
Ultimately, North Carolina's dominant performance not only solidified their home advantage but also highlighted their potential as a strong contender in the NCAAB landscape, while Notre Dame will need to regroup and address their ongoing struggles.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UNC -13.5 | 149.5 o -110 / u -110 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish +700 · North Carolina Tar Heels -1100 |
Leaders
- PointsCaleb Wilson22North Carolina Tar Heels
- AssistsCaleb Wilson5North Carolina Tar Heels
- ReboundsHenri Veesaar12North Carolina Tar Heels
- PointsSir Mohammed14Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- AssistsBraeden Shrewsberry5Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- ReboundsJalen Haralson6Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Recent form
North Carolina Tar Heels
Last 10: 7-3Streak L282.5 scored · 72.8 allowed per game6-0 at home
- 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
- W81-61vs Georgetown HoyasDec 7
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last 10: 5-5Streak L471.8 scored · 70.9 allowed per game2-2 away
- L76-89at Virginia Tech HokiesJan 17
- L69-81vs Miami HurricanesJan 14
- L61-76vs Clemson TigersJan 10
- L71-72at California Golden BearsJan 3
- W47-40at Stanford CardinalDec 31
- L69-72vs Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsDec 21
- W82-58vs Evansville Purple AcesDec 13
- W80-65vs Idaho VandalsDec 11
- W87-85at TCU Horned FrogsDec 6
- W76-71vs Missouri TigersDec 3
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 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | North Carolina Tar Heels |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-75 | 31-61 |
| Field goal % | 36 | 51 |
| Three-pointers | 8-25 | 13-34 |
| Three-point % | 32 | 38 |
| Free throws | 7-13 | 16-23 |
| Free throw % | 54 | 70 |
| Rebounds | 39 | 44 |
| Offensive rebounds | 18 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 21 | 34 |
| Assists | 13 | 18 |
| Steals | 5 | 3 |
| Blocks | 0 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 2 | 7 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 32 |
| Fouls | 16 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 29 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 97 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half35-52Carson Towt makes layup
- 2nd Half35-53Henri Veesaar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-53Jalen Haralson makes layup
- 2nd Half37-55Caleb Wilson makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half37-56Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half37-57Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half39-57Logan Imes makes 13-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half39-60Kyan Evans makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jarin Stevenson assists)
- 2nd Half41-60Sir Mohammed makes 9-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half41-63Jarin Stevenson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jonathan Powell assists)
- 2nd Half42-63Cole Certa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-63Cole Certa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-65Jonathan Powell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half43-68Kyan Evans makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half43-70Henri Veesaar makes layup
- 2nd Half45-70Jalen Haralson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half47-70Jalen Haralson makes layup
- 2nd Half47-72Seth Trimble makes layup (Jonathan Powell assists)
- 2nd Half47-74Henri Veesaar makes layup (Caleb Wilson assists)
- 2nd Half47-76Caleb Wilson makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half49-76Carson Towt makes 11-foot floating jump shot (Braeden Shrewsberry assists)
- 2nd Half51-76Carson Towt makes 13-foot floating jump shot (Braeden Shrewsberry assists)
- 2nd Half51-78Caleb Wilson makes 14-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half53-78Sir Mohammed makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half53-80Caleb Wilson makes 16-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half56-80Sir Mohammed makes 23-foot three point jumper (Logan Imes assists)
- 2nd Half56-82Luka Bogavac makes layup (Caleb Wilson assists)
- 2nd Half58-82Brady Koehler makes 0-foot dunk (Logan Imes assists)
- 2nd Half60-82Matthew MacLellan makes layup (Sir Mohammed assists)
- 2nd Half60-83Luka Bogavac makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-84Luka Bogavac makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-86Zayden High makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half62-86Sir Mohammed makes layup (Brady Stevens assists)
- 2nd Half63-86Sir Mohammed makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half63-89Jarin Stevenson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Luka Bogavac assists)
- 2nd Half65-89Sir Mohammed makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half66-89Ryder Frost makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-90Evan Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-91Evan Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-91Ryder Frost makes 25-foot three point jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours North Carolina Tar Heels, below favours Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Venue
- Dean E. Smith CenterChapel Hill, NC
- Attendance19686
- OfficialsDon Daily, Bert Smith, Clarence Armstrong
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- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
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