RJ Davis stats tonight: How did North Carolina star fare vs Auburn? (Nov 26)

Senior star RJ Davis had his lowest-scoring game of the season as No. 12 North Carolina lost to No. 4 Auburn 85-72 in the Maui Invitational semifinals on Tuesday. The All-American guard and preseason ACC Player of the Year was limited to just 12 points, five rebounds and one assist. He shot 5-for-11 from the field and connected on only one of his four 3-point attempts.

This marked a stark contrast to his 30-point performance against Dayton, where he and teammate Seth Trimble helped the Tar Heels rally from a 21-point deficit.

Despite being a nominee for major national awards such as the Naismith, NABC and Wooden awards, Davis struggled against Auburn’s stifling defense, which severely limited his offensive opportunities.

A critical issue for North Carolina was their inability to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line. Davis, along with Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble — typically reliable at the stripe — managed only four free-throw attempts combined, missing three of them.

Through six games, Davis is averaging 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists. While he boasts an impressive 89.2% free-throw percentage, his efficiency from the field (37.4%) and from beyond the arc (26.7%) remains an area for improvement.

UNC struggles against Auburn’s defense

After victories over Elon, American University, Hawai'i and Dayton, North Carolina is searching for answers following early-season losses to No. 1 Kansas and No. 4 Auburn.

Auburn stormed to a 15-point lead within the first six minutes and fended off multiple comeback attempts by the 12th-ranked Tar Heels, ultimately securing the 13-point win at the Lahaina Civic Center.

The Tar Heels had mounted a historic rally to defeat Dayton 92-90 in the quarterfinals — marking the second-largest comeback in program history — but couldn’t replicate the effort against the Tigers. Auburn, fresh off erasing an 18-point deficit against No. 5 Iowa State, capitalized on turnovers and defensive stops to secure the victory.

Auburn outscored UNC 15-6 in points off turnovers, forcing 10 miscues while holding the Tar Heels to their lowest-scoring performance of the season. North Carolina entered the matchup averaging 93.0 points per game, including an 89-point outing against No. 1 Kansas but managed just 72 points against Auburn.

Auburn’s defense was pivotal, registering seven steals and seven blocks and forcing 10 turnovers and 16 fouls while disrupting UNC’s rhythm.

The Tigers now aim to become the third SEC team to win the Maui Invitational. North Carolina, meanwhile, faces Michigan State in the third-place game on Wednesday night.