ATLANTA (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense, missed opportunities, and a frantic final sequence, the North Carolina Tar Heels escaped with a 71-70 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday afternoon at State Farm Arena.

A crowd of 16,951 saw the Tar Heels improve to 11-1, while the Buckeyes fell to 8-3 in a non-conference clash that came down to the final possession.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the closing seconds. With North Carolina leading 69-67, Ohio State’s John Mobley hit a deep 3-pointer while being fouled by Caleb Wilson with 48 seconds remaining. Mobley completed the four-point play at the free-throw line, giving the Buckeyes a 70-69 lead and sending the pro-Ohio State portion of the Atlanta crowd into a frenzy.

North Carolina, needing a response, worked the ball to Henri Veesaar, who found Seth Trimble cutting for a layup to put the Tar Heels back ahead 71-70 with 34 seconds left. Ohio State called a timeout to set up a final play.

Out of the timeout, the Buckeyes’ Colin White committed a critical turnover, throwing a pass directly to North Carolina’s Jarin Stevenson with 23 seconds left. After a North Carolina timeout, the Tar Heels ran the clock down before Veesaar slammed home a dunk off a feed from Trimble with just seven seconds remaining, extending the lead to 73-70.

Ohio State had one last chance, inbounding with four seconds left. Mobley’s potential game-winning 3-point attempt was off the mark, and Devin Royal’s follow-up tip was blocked by Caleb Wilson as time expired, sealing the narrow Tar Heel victory.

The game was a defensive struggle throughout. Both teams shot an identical 25 of 63 from the field, but North Carolina’s slight edge from beyond the arc—8 made 3-pointers to Ohio State’s 4—proved crucial. The Buckeyes kept themselves in the game by converting 16 of 19 free throws, while North Carolina struggled at the line, making only 7 of 13.

North Carolina was led by a dominant performance from Atlanta native Caleb Wilson. The 6-foot-10 forward posted 20 points and 15 rebounds, adding three blocks, including the game-sealing swat. His frontcourt partner, 7-foot Estonian Henri Veesaar, was equally impactful with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Seth Trimble added 17 points for the Tar Heels.

Ohio State’s effort was spearheaded by Devin Royal, who scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Bruce Thornton contributed 16 points and four assists, while Christoph Tilly recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. John Mobley scored 13 points, including the dramatic four-point play in the final minute.

North Carolina built its lead in the first half, taking a 34-31 advantage into the break. The Tar Heels extended that lead to as many as nine points in the second half before Ohio State mounted its comeback, setting the stage for the tense finish.

The game was played at a deliberate pace, with North Carolina scoring on 66 possessions and Ohio State on 67. The Tar Heels’ offensive rating of 107.3 just edged out the Buckeyes’ 104.4. North Carolina won the battle in transition, outscoring Ohio State 10-5 on fast breaks, while the Buckeyes held a 38-34 advantage in points in the paint.

North Carolina will look to continue its winning streak when it hosts East Carolina on Monday. Ohio State returns home to face Grambling on Tuesday.