North Carolina and San Diego State face off in the second of tonight’s First Four March Madness games for a shot at playing Ole Miss on Friday afternoon.
Of the two teams, it’s UNC whose NCAA Tournament berth is the most controversial — and for good reason.
The Tar Heels finished sixth in a diminished ACC with a 13-7 conference record and a 22-13 overall mark. They did reach the ACC Tournament semifinals but lost to a Cooper Flagg-less Duke by just three points.
UNC trailed by 21 at halftime and mounted a furious comeback, only to squander last-minute opportunities to tie the game — including a costly lane violation that nullified a free throw that would have evened the score with 4.1 seconds remaining.
Junior Ven-Allen Lubin came up big in the near-comeback win, scoring 20 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. It was an off night for senior RJ Davis who has been a mainstay of the Tar Heels’ offense, averaging 17 points per game over the season, but managing just eight on Friday.
Anything can happen. Maybe we’ll even see freshman Ian Jackson regain his early-season brilliance. Once viewed as a likely first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Jackson is now projected to slip into the second round. A deeper run in the tournament gives Jackson a big stage to show his talents.
San Diego State’s Miles Byrd has followed a similar trajectory, delivering strong performances in January before going cold later in the season. Senior Nick Boyd has stepped up in his place, but if both players can find their rhythm, the game will be the Aztecs’ to lose.
How to Watch North Carolina vs. San Diego State
The North Carolina-San Diego State game airs on truTV and streams on the truTV, Max, and March Madness Live apps and website.
Those without an existing subscription package that includes truTV can watch the channel for free through trials offered by DirectTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV.
You’ll need a cable, satellite, or streaming subscription with truTV to watch the full game on the March Madness Live app or website. But they offer a free 60-minute preview for those without one — so it might be wise to save it for the second half.
North Carolina vs. San Diego State
Date: March 18, 2025
Time: 9:10 PM Eastern
Venue: UD Arena, Dayton, OH
TV: truTV
Streaming: truTV, Max, and March Madness Live apps, Sling, DirectTV Stream (free trial), Hulu + Live TV (free trial), YouTube TV (free trial)
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