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  • Trimble Scores Career‑High 30 As No. 18 North Carolina Holds Off No. 24 Louisville, 77-74

Trimble Scores Career‑High 30 As No. 18 North Carolina Holds Off No. 24 Louisville, 77-74

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Basketball

(BCSNN) — Seth Trimble scored a career‑high 30 points and No. 18 North Carolina used a decisive 17–2 second‑half run to take control before holding off No. 24 Louisville 77–74 on Monday night at the Smith Center.

The Tar Heels (22–6, 10–5 ACC) trailed by 10 in the first half, surged ahead by as many as 16 in the second and survived a late Louisville push to remain unbeaten at home. Carolina improved to 16–0 at the Smith Center, extending its longest home winning streak since a 23‑game run from 2016–17.

Trimble went 11 of 16 from the field and added four rebounds and four assists while hitting seven of 11 free throws. It marked his third 20‑point game of the season and the fourth of his career.

“I just felt in a groove, in a really good rhythm,” Trimble said. “I just knew there was gonna be more to come in a good way.”

Henri Veesaar and Luka Bogavac scored 12 points each, while Jarin Stevenson added nine points, seven rebounds and two steals. Derek Dixon hit two key threes and finished with seven points, and Zayden High contributed four points, six rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal.

Louisville (21–7, 9–6) was led by Mikel Brown Jr. with 24 points and Ryan Conwell with 23. The Cardinals made 14 three‑pointers but shot just 38.8 percent overall.

North Carolina shot 60.7 percent in the first half — its second straight half above 60 percent — and finished at 53.6 percent. The Tar Heels dominated points in the paint 40–24 despite being outrebounded 41–32, including 16–7 on the offensive glass.

“We got outrebounded by nine,” UNC head coach Hubert Davis said. “I’m a huge believer in rebounding being the number one determining factor in an outcome of a game.”

Carolina led 39–38 at halftime behind Trimble’s 16 points. The Tar Heels opened the second half with a 7–1 burst and stretched the margin to 56–40 after Trimble’s steal and breakaway dunk. Louisville responded with a 9–0 run and later pulled within two in the final minute, but UNC held on to win its first of three straight home games.

Davis‑coached teams improved to 57–4 when holding opponents under 40 percent shooting and 46–2 when shooting at least 50 percent.

North Carolina has now won 10 or more ACC regular‑season games for the 49th time, including all five seasons under Davis.

The Tar Heels host Virginia Tech on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.