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CBB: Felix's Jumper Downs U.N.C.

Chas Post

Hidden in a sports world that is filled with the second college football playoff, Heisman trophy, NFL playoff races, and the Golden State Warriors chasing the ‘96 Bulls, the world of college basketball has to take a back seat. Rightfully so, the other sports deserve their time, because come March, there will be no talk outside of what small town school busted your bracket, what big name school that struggled during the regular season is making a late run, and what team you are “positive” will win the National Championship.

But until we get to mid March, where college basketball grabs the steering wheel, we get to watch a wild and crazy regular season. Lost in all of the other news, Texas won one of the biggest games on the young season, against #3 North Carolina. Not to take anything from Northern Iowa but when they beat UNC, the Heels were not healthy. Now Marcus Paige is back, they just came off of back-to-back wins including one over a top notch Maryland team, and yet the Longhorns were able to muster up a fantastic game plan, and then execute it to perfection.

Big man Cameron Ridley was a monster on the boards, as Javan Felix and Eric Davis Jr. led the team from knocking down what seemed like every shot they took, and then star point guard Isaiah Taylor holding down the fort. Even with all of that, UNC did not go down without a fight. Marcus Paige scored 20 points and got some help from Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson.

With the score tied at 80, and under a minute to go, Isaiah Taylor grabbed his own offensive rebound and put it right back up to give the Horns a lead, which was answered quickly by a Brice Johnson layup for North Carolina. Then on the other end, there was just a sprinkle of magic left in the Frank Erwin Center. Isaiah Taylor missed a three pointer, which bounced off of the right side of the rim and into the hands of senior Javan Felix.

He hit the mid range jumper as the buzzer sounded, milliseconds before the crowd went absolutely insane. His 24th and 25th points were just in time to give Texas a much needed two point victory. Neither of these teams are done making noise, both will be heard from as the season progresses so before you let college basketball go ignored until March, you should think twice because the heartbreaks, buzzer beaters, shockers, and amazing finishes are just getting started.


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