LAWRENCE, Kan. – Only a dozen times in their storied history had North Carolina and Kansas met on the hardwood.

They made sure No. 13 would be unforgettable.

The top-ranked Jayhawks raced to a 20-point first-half lead on Friday night, led by All-American center Hunter Dickinson and a highly touted class of transfers. And the ninth-ranked Tar Heels mounted a big comeback in the second half, led by All-American guard RJ Davis and the rest of their elite backcourt, eventually taking the lead as time expired in Allen Fieldhouse.

But as is often the case with the Phog, the Jayhawks ultimately made the plays that mattered.

Dickinson scored the go-ahead basket with 1:15 to go, added a foul shot with 12 seconds left and watched North Carolina’s Elliot Cadeau miss a 3-pointer as time expired, allowing the Jayhawks to escape with a victory of 92-89.

“Total class on both sides. It was cheer for your team, but don’t root for the other team,” said Kansas coach Bill Self, who tied the building’s namesake Phog Allen for the most wins at the school with 590 . “Even though we didn’t play our best, we found a way to win. I think it was a good game for both programs.”

The stars certainly shone in the final showdown between two schools with 10 national titles between them.

South Dakota State transfer Zeke Mayo had 21 points for Kansas. Dickinson scored 20 and KJ Adams Jr. finished with 14, as the Jayhawks (2-0) narrowly avoided matching the worst loss in school history.

Seth Trimble had 19 points, Davis scored 16 and Cadeau finished with 12 points and seven assists for the Tar Heels (1-1), who were able to come back from a 49-29 deficit thanks to a 28-for-31. performance at the foul line.

“I mean, any time you take two incredible programs with great kids and talented kids – competitive kids – it doesn’t matter if it’s March or November. It’s going to be competitive,” North Carolina coach Hubert Davis said.

“You run through that tunnel and you see that crowd, and you see Kansas across the field,” Davis added. “If you’re not motivated to play and compete in this kind of atmosphere, against that kind of team, then there must be something wrong with you.”

It’s the shared history of North Carolina and Kansas — the quality of their matchups, including five Final Four battles and two national title games, along with the Hall of Fame coaches who bond them together — that has turned their series into a rivalry.

In fact, this was only the second game on campus, and it came more than sixty years after eventual Kansas coach Larry Brown led the Tar Heels to victory in the Phog. And despite the rarity of home-and-home series in an era of expanded conference schedules, seasonal tournaments and interleague showdowns, the 14th game between Kansas and North Carolina will take place on Nov. 14, 2025, when the Jayhawks visit. Chapel Hill for the first time.

Until then, the bragging rights remain in a series that was tied at six wins apiece at Kansas before Friday night.

The Jayhawks, who rallied from 16 down to beat North Carolina in their final game for the 2022 national title, seized control with an early 15-3 run and eventually extended the lead to 20 with just under two minutes remaining to go in the first half.

The Tar Heels, led by their exceptional backcourt but weaker in the post, struggled to contain Dickinson and Adams when their big men found themselves in foul trouble. Jalen Washington, Jae’Lyn Withers and Ven-Allen Lubin sat long in the first half with two fouls each, and Tyzhaun Claude picked up three for North Carolina in just 3½ minutes.

But when the big men came back, the Tar Heels started coming back. And it didn’t take long before it was turned into a game.

Davis, Cadeau and Trimble have done most of the work, as is expected of them all season. But the big boys also played a role in the comeback, and it was back-to-back baskets from Withers that gave North Carolina an 80-79 lead with 7:06 to go.

From that point on, the teams started looking for the lead, with the Tar Heels leading 89-87 on Washington’s basket with 2 minutes left. But Mayo answered for Kansas at the other end, and after getting a stop, Dickinson provided the go-ahead goal. He added the first of two free throws with 12 seconds left, setting up North Carolina’s last-chance 3-pointer.

When Cadeau’s shot deflected away, the Jayhawks stormed onto the field in a celebratory mood for March.

After all, they had won an NCAA tournament-eligible game.

“I wanted to play this game because I love basketball. I love competing,” Davis said, his voice hoarse from shouting above the din. “They can join us next year. The game is the game, you know? I just like to participate.”