Georgia defeated North Carolina 78-70 on November 13, 2026, at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Late Bulldogs Run Snaps Streak
Kanon Catchings scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs past the Tar Heels on Friday night, snapping a 21-game home win streak for North Carolina according to ESPN reporting. Blue Cain added 20 points for Georgia, which improved to 4-0 for the third straight season. Marcus Millender contributed 17 points to the winning effort.
Georgia outscored North Carolina 20-8 over the final six minutes to secure the victory as reported by ESPN. Catchings sank two free throws with 2:11 remaining to put the Bulldogs ahead for good at 69-68. He followed with a deep 3-pointer from the left baseline with 1:44 left on the clock.
Georgia has never played in the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons. That could change under Mike White. Bulldogs beat UNC in Chapel Hill after back-to-back appearances in March Madness. Program is rock solid.
The Bulldogs entered the contest following a 4-0 start that included victories over North Carolina Central, Presbyterian College, and Florida Gulf Coast. Mike White leads a Georgia program that reached the NCAA Tournament in both 2025 and 2026.
The roster features returning starters such as Cain, who averaged 13.1 points per game the previous season, and Marcus Millender, who averaged 12.0 points per game. They are joined by junior Kanon Catchings, who averaged 11.6 points per game, and sophomore Kareem Stagg, who averaged 4.8 points per game.
GEORGIA WINS IN CHAPEL HILL đ¶ Dawgs rain in 14 triples en route to defeating UNC âïž pic.twitter.com/YTEWDtd4h9
The matchup served as the first meeting between the two programs in 28 years, reviving a series where North Carolina historically held the upper hand. Planning for the home-and-home series came together after North Carolina reached out expressing a desire to schedule games, with athletic department staff members John Bateman and Clint Gwaltney helping organize the event.
Additional connections link the two sides, as Mike White’s father, Kevin, is a former athletic director at Duke who still maintains a home in Durham, while White himself served as a State assistant from 2011 to 2017. Georgia players James Scott and Freddie Dilione hail from Fayetteville, North Carolina.
âThey put their jersey on like we do.â âThey bleed how we bleed.â It’s not nothing that we’re not prepared for that Coach White and the other coaches haven’t prepared us for since June, said Smurf Millender.
Tar Heels Struggle on Glass
Terrence Brown led North Carolina with 21 points, Neo Avdalas scored 14, and reserve Isaiah Denis chipped in 11 as detailed in the game recap. The Tar Heels fell to 3-1 overall despite building a nine-point advantage at 60-51 with 10:35 remaining in the second half per ESPN and University of North Carolina Athletics.
North Carolina entered the matchup under head coach Michael Malone following an 80-72 victory over Western Carolina and a 76-63 win over Wyoming in the 600th game played at the Dean Smith Center. The Tar Heels’ roster includes bench contributors Alex Samodurov and Cade Bennerman, while Cameron Fens has continued to hope for eligibility.
Rebounding difficulties plagued North Carolina down the stretch noted Adam Lucas of University of North Carolina Athletics. Georgia outrebounded the hosts 52-43 and grabbed 18 offensive boards according to official game records. Those second-chance opportunities yielded 15 points for the visitors.
âI challenged our manhood at halftime.â âWe had guys that had just played a whole half of basketball with zero rebounds or one defensive rebound.â âAnd I went down the whole roster and challenged each player and challenged the group collectively to go out there and stop getting punked.â Because the streets talk, and right now the streets are talking, said Michael Malone.
Historic Series Reversal in Chapel Hill
The outcome marked Georgia’s first victory over North Carolina since an 82-77 decision in the 1983 NCAA East Regional final reported University of Georgia Athletics. It was also the program’s first win in Chapel Hill across nine trips dating back to 1918 noted the athletic department.
âThe execution down the stretch, I thought we looked really connected.â âUp seven and a half, just get punched in the mouth early and often there in the second half, where we could have looked deer in headlights,â White said.
Georgia returns home to host Jacksonville on Monday at 7:00 p.m. North Carolina hosts Marshall on November 20 reported ESPN, followed by a matchup against Monmouth on November 23.
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