UNC basketball is closing in on 500 wins at the Smith Center, which opened in 1986. Here are 10 of the top games from former Tar Heels at the venue.
It’s nearly the 40-year anniversary of the Dean E. Smith Center, home of North Carolina men’s basketball since 1986.
The Tar Heels are one win shy of notching No. 500, with an overall record of 499-90 in regular-season games at the Chapel Hill venue named for the program’s late legendary coach Dean Smith.
No. 17 UNC (13-2, 1-1 ACC) returns to the Smith Center on Saturday, Jan. 10, to play Tobacco Road rival Wake Forest (10-5, 1-1) after a week-long break. The Tar Heels have won 166 games against the Demon Deacons, including 26 of 31 games played at the Smith Center.
As Carolina closes in on its 500th victory at the site, here are 10 of the top performances from former Tar Heels since the Smith Center opened in 1986 (listed in chronological order).
George Lynch steals win for UNC basketball vs Florida State (1993)
During UNC’s national championship season in 1992-93, the Tar Heels trailed Florida State by 21 points with 11 ½ minutes left before rallying to take down the Seminoles at the Smith Center on Jan. 27, 1993. George Lynch had seven steals, including the game’s biggest play in the final two minutes. Snagging a cross-court pass out of the air, Lynch raced down the court for a dunk to give UNC its first lead since the opening minutes. The Tar Heels won 82-77. Only two Tar Heels have logged more steals at the Smith Center: Derrick Phelps had eight in 1991 vs. Central Florida and Tyler Hansbrough had eight vs. UNC Asheville in 2005.
Antawn Jamison helps UNC dominate Duke (1998)
The 1998 National Player of the Year, Antawn Jamison dominated Duke at the Smith Center in a 97-73 win for the Tar Heels on Feb. 5, 1998. Jamison had 35 points and 11 rebounds, making 14 of 20 shots against the Blue Devils. It was said that Jamison, who was known for his elite positioning and quick decision making on the interior, only touched the ball for 53 seconds to score 35 points.
Antawn Jamison, Tar Heels mash Maryland (1998)
Following his sensational showing against rival Duke, Jamison had a career-high 36 points on 16 of 23 shooting, along with 16 rebounds, to help UNC earn an 18-point win against a Maryland team that beat the Tar Heels earlier that season. Jamison made 12 of his first 14 shots before finishing with a Smith Center-record 16 baskets on Feb. 14, 1998.
Joseph Forte almost gets triple-double in win vs Tulsa (2000)
Playing all 40 minutes in UNC’s 91-81 win against Tulsa and coach Buzz Peterson, a former Tar Heel player, Joseph Forte dropped a career-high 38 points, which was a Smith Center record at the time, on 10 of 18 shooting. Forte made 12 of 13 shots from the free-throw line and flirted with a triple-double, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out six assists on Nov. 12, 2000.
Brendan Haywood swats Miami shots, records triple-double (2000)
Before Miami joined the ACC, Brendan Haywood had a shot-swatting exhibition against the Hurricanes at the Smith Center in 2000. Haywood also became the first Tar Heel in program history to record a triple-double, logging 18 points, 14 rebounds and a school-record 10 blocks in a 67-45 win against Miami at the Smith Center, on Dec. 5, 2000.
Sean May sets rebounding record vs Duke (2005)
Marvin Williams had the shot in UNC’s 75-73 win against Duke on March 6, 2005, but Sean May was the MVP of that game. May had 26 points and a Smith Center-record 24 rebounds, devastating the Blue Devils on the interior. UNC went on to win the 2005 national title.
Tyler Hansbrough drops 40 in comeback win vs Georgia Tech (2006)
It didn’t take long for Tyler Hansbrough to become a force in college basketball. As a freshman, Hansbrough set a Smith Center-record with 40 points to help the Tar Heels rally from a 20-point deficit in an 82-75 win against Georgia Tech on Feb. 15, 2006. Hansbrough had 23 points and hit 11 of 13 free throws in the second half to will the Heels to victory.
Tyler Hansbrough closes door on Clemson chance (2008)
Before Clemson ended its 59-game winless streak in Chapel Hill in 2020, the Tigers had a golden opportunity to do so in 2008. Tyler Hansbrough denied Clemson the chance to get there, scoring 39 points in a 103-93 double-overtime win on Feb. 10, 2008. Hansbrough, who scored 13 points in the overtime periods, had 39 points on 16 shots and made 17 of 19 free throws. He also snagged 13 rebounds.
Kendall Marshall racks up assists vs FSU (2011)
Raymond Felton had 18 assists vs. George Mason (2003) and Jeff Lebo had 17 assists against Chattanooga (1988), but Kendall Marshall has five of the top 13 assist performances in UNC history. Marshall had a career-high 16 assists in an ACC-record performance against FSU on Feb. 6, 2011. That showing came after Larry Drew II left the program a few days earlier, officially giving Marshall the keys as UNC’s point guard.
RJ Davis scores 42 points at Smith Center vs Miami (2024)
The 2024 ACC Player of the Year, RJ Davis had a Smith Center-record 42 points and career-high seven 3-pointers in a 75-71 win against Miami on Feb. 26, 2024. Davis scored 21 points in the first half, finishing 14 of 22 from the floor. He also snagged six rebounds and four steals to make history as the first Tar Heel to reach 1,800 points, 200 3-pointers, 500 rebounds and 300 assists in a career.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball 10 top games from former Tar Heels at Smith Center
Category: General Sports
