The Miami Hurricanes faced a tough battle against the No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, ultimately falling short in a nail-biting 75-72 loss. Despite a valiant effort from Nijel Pack, who scored 20 points, Miami couldn’t secure the win, with Pack missing a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds.

Throughout the game, Norchad Omier also showcased his skills with an impressive performance, contributing 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Additionally, Wooga Poplar added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Hurricanes. However, despite their efforts, Miami has now suffered three losses in their last four games, leaving them with a record of 15-9 overall and 6-7 in the ACC.

The first half saw Miami leading 41-40 at halftime, fueled by the combined efforts of Pack and Omier, who dominated with 34 points between them. However, North Carolina quickly turned the tide, jumping out to a 15-4 lead early in the game behind RJ Davis’s sharp shooting, including two 3-pointers.

Davis continued to lead the charge for the Tar Heels, finishing the game with an impressive 25 points. Additionally, freshman Elliot Cadeau made his mark by scoring a season-high 19 points and dishing out eight assists.

Despite the Hurricanes’ resilience, they couldn’t overcome North Carolina’s strong second-half performance, trailing by as many as 12 points. Pack’s missed opportunity in the final seconds dashed Miami’s hopes of forcing overtime or possibly pulling off a comeback victory.

Looking ahead, Miami will regroup as they prepare to face Clemson on Wednesday in another crucial ACC matchup.