DAYTON, OHIO - MARCH 18: Jae'Lyn Withers #24 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reaches for the ball while entangled with Miles Heide #40 of the San Diego State Aztecs during the First Four round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at University of Dayton Arena on March 18, 2025 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
North Carolina heard all the talk about how they didn’t deserve to be in the tournament. They had just one Quad 1 win, and plenty of people thought they got in because of their name, not their resume. On Tuesday night, they responded in the best way possible—by embarrassing San Diego State in a 95-68 rout to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
From the jump, the Tar Heels controlled the game. San Diego State briefly held a lead for 25 seconds, but after that, it was all UNC. RJ Davis was the star of the night, dropping 26 points and hitting big shots every time the Aztecs tried to make a push. Jalen Withers dominated the glass, finishing with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Elliot Cadeau, racked up 12 assists to go along with 9 points to keep the offense rolling.
North Carolina’s offense was clicking, and their defense made life miserable for San Diego State. The Aztecs, known for their tough defense, had no answers for UNC’s ball movement and shot-making. By halftime, the game was already slipping away as the Aztecs trailed by 24, and the second half was nothing more than a statement from the Tar Heels.
This was about sending a message. UNC wasn’t just trying to win—they were proving a point. The committee gave them a chance, and they weren’t going to waste it. Now, with momentum on their side, the Tar Heels are officially in the big dance, and if this performance was any indication, they aren’t just happy to be there—they’re ready to make some noise.
