CHAPEL HILL, N.C. _ Technically, Tuesday's game with Miami didn't matter in the ACC standings.
Try telling that to North Carolina seniors Joel Berry and Theo Pinson. Miami spoiled UNC's Senior Night with a 91-88 win over the ninth-ranked Tar Heels at the Smith Center.
Miami senior Ja'Quan Newton hit a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Hurricanes (21-8, 10-7 ACC) the dramatic win. UNC (22-8, 11-6 ACC) will still be the No. 2 seed in the ACC tournament with a win at Duke on Saturday.
So, in that sense, Tuesday's game didn't matter. Except it was the last hurrah at the Smith Center for Berry and Pinson.
Newton scored the final nine points for Miami to hold off a furious UNC rally. Berry led all scorers with a career-high 31 points, including his last 3 with 4.1 seconds left to tie the game at 88.
The Tar Heels trailed by as many as 16 in the second half and by 10 with 4:57 left but Berry kept scrapping and clawing, determined not end his home career with a loss. Newton just had one last answer.
