The Tar Heels battled with a relentless Portland team for a full 40 minutes. After taking an early 18-8 lead, Portland responded with a 10-0 run to tie it. From that point on, the game was tightly contested, with neither team leading by more than five points until there were two minutes remaining. The Heels managed to ice it at the free throw line and come away with an 89-81 victory.
In the first half, Caleb Love looked like a shoe-in for POTG, making all the right decisions en route to his most efficient half of the season thus far.