All Tar Heels

Nine New RJ Davis Notes for UNC Basketball History Books

All in one night, RJ Davis sizzled to the tune of matching or eclipsing multiple UNC basketball legends' memorable feats.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Adding to the mystique of RJ Davis' 42 points in Monday night's 75-71 home win over Miami, it tipped off just 48 hours after the senior guard posted a 1-for-14 shooting clip in the Tar Heels' 54-44 win at Virginia on Saturday. Keep that in mind while perusing these nine tidbits that he carved into the annals of UNC basketball's storied history:

  • With a career-high 42 points, Davis joined nine other Tar Heels in history to score 40 points in a game.
  • Miami had never before given up more than 35 points to a Tar Heel.
  • Davis' career-high seven threes was only one shy of the UNC basketball record.
  • He broke Tyler Hansbrough's record (40) for the most points by a player in any of the now-562 UNC games in the Dean E. Smith Center.
  • No Tar Heel since Shammond Williams scored 42 in a double-overtime victory at Georgia Tech in 1998 has matched his mark in ACC regular season play, and they're tied for the third-highest total among UNC players in such outings.
  • By outscoring his teammates, 42-33, he became the first Tar Heel to do so since Michael Jordan poured in 39 in a 72-65 win over Georgia Tech in 1983.
  • With 56.0 percent of his team's points, Davis boasts UNC's highest such mark since George Glamack's 45 points accounted for 59.2 percent of the 1940-41 Tar Heels' 76 against Clemson.
  • The 34-point edge over his highest-scoring teammate in the contest, Harrison Ingram's eight, goes down as the largest such margin in Tar Heel history.
  • It was the first time since 2011 that the Tar Heels won a game with only one player reaching double-digit points.

And on that note, in putting UNC on his back against the Hurricanes, RJ Davis moved into the top 10 on the program's all-time scoring list, now in a tie with Brad Daugherty at 1,912 and with three regular season games and postseason action still on tap.

NEXT UNC BASKETBALL GAME: No. 9 Tar Heels (22-6, 14-3 ACC) at home versus unranked NC State (17-10, 9-7 ACC), 4 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN)

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Hubert Davis Heaps Praise on UNC Senior for Historic Effort

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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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