North Carolina made things interesting late, but the same issues that have haunted the Tar Heels all season proved too much to overcome in an 84–78 loss to Cal.

UNC trimmed a 17-point halftime deficit down to three in the final seconds, showing the fight and shot-making that has flashed throughout the year. But the hole was simply too deep, created largely by a first half that once again exposed Carolina’s defensive shortcomings.

The damage came early and often. Cal shot 63 percent from three in the first half, carving up UNC’s perimeter defense with clean looks and confident rhythm. Closeouts were late, dribble penetration collapsed the defense, and rotations never fully recovered. By the time the Tar Heels settled in, Cal had already seized control.

That trend has become impossible to ignore. North Carolina has now allowed 50 percent or better shooting from the field in four straight games, three of which have resulted in losses to SMU, Stanford, and now Cal. Even with improved effort in the second half, the Tar Heels continue to put themselves in positions where margin for error disappears.

Offensively, Carolina showed more cohesion after halftime, pushing the pace and attacking downhill. But extended scoring droughts earlier in the game forced them into catch-up mode yet again, a recurring theme that continues to strain both ends of the floor.

One positive takeaway came in the starting lineup. After Kyan Evans has struggled to find consistency offensively, Hubert Davis turned to Derek Dixon at point guard. Dixon responded with 14 points, providing better pace control, physicality, and decisiveness. While the sample size remains small, the early returns have been encouraging.

It’s not a definitive answer, but it’s a direction worth committing to. At this stage, Davis needs to continue starting Dixon and see if something can grow from it. What UNC has gotten from Dixon so far — even in limited opportunities — has been steadier and more productive.

The Tar Heels showed fight, but until the defense improves from the opening tip and lineup stability takes hold, late rallies will continue to fall just short.

The Tar Heels return home to host Notre Dame on Wednesday night.