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Former UNC Basketball Guard in Tears After Unbelievable Feat

UNC basketball pro Cole Anthony boosted his season averages considerably in helping the Magic overcome a huge deficit.

Matt Giles

Former UNC basketball guard Cole Anthony
Former UNC basketball guard Cole Anthony / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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The Orlando Magic faced a seemingly insurmountable 106-84 deficit entering the fourth quarter against the visiting Miami Heat in the Kia Center on Saturday night. Leave it to 2019-20 UNC basketball star Cole Anthony to pull off an epic surprise.

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Anthony sparked the Magic's comeback right out of the gates in the final 12 minutes, scoring the first four points of the quarter via a tip-in dunk and driving hook shot. His teammates followed suit. And the 24-year-old reserve guard continued to fuel the unthinkable, totaling 13 points in the fourth quarter to power Orlando to the 121-114 victory.

Doing the math, Orlando outscored Miami in the fourth quarter, 37-8.

Understandably, the incredible feat was of the highly emotional variety for Anthony, who was averaging a career-low 5.1 points and 11.0 minutes before bumping those numbers to 6.2 and 11.5 by delivering 35 points in 28 minutes off the bench against the dumbfounded Heat. The former No. 15 overall draft pick added eight rebounds, nine assists, one steal, and one block.

"I'm all over the place, y'all," Cole Anthony said on the court before coming to tears for a moment and ultimately giving countless shoutouts to his teammates. "It's been a tough year, man...It just felt so good to feel like I was a part of winning, to feel like I contributed to something."

Cole Anthony and the injury-riddled Orlando Magic (18-12) will now prepare for another daunting test at home. They host the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics (22-6) at 7 p.m. ET Monday.

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more NBA Tar Heel updates and other UNC basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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