The top ranked Heels got out to a fast start but played stagnant basketball for much of the first half. After the Heels raced out to an early lead the Stags came back to pull the game to within four quickly. The two teams then went up and down the court for most of the first half with Carolina's lead oscillating between 3 and six points until the Heels pulled away at the end of the half to lead by 11 before a Fairfield three cut the lead to 8 at the half.
The Heels followed the same script in the second half, opening the period on a 7-2 run before allowing Fairfield back into it.