UNC vs. Harvard: Score and Twitter Reaction from March Madness 2015

The North Carolina Tar Heels didn't play their best basketball but held on to defeat Harvard, 67-65, in Thursday's second-round NCAA tournament contest in Jacksonville, Florida.

Senior Crimson star Wesley Saunders poured in a game-high 26 points and scored Harvard's first 10, but his best efforts were ultimately in vain.

Saunders missed a long three-point shot off the backboard as the clock wound down. Tar Heels floor general Marcus Paige fed Justin Jackson for the winning dunk with 23 seconds left, as UNC's numerous opportunities close to the basket proved to be a common theme.

Jackson had 14 points to lead North Carolina, Paige had 12 and Kennedy Meeks put up 10 of his own.

Harvard point guard Siyani Chambers notched a four-point play with just over a minute left in the game to give the Crimson their first lead, 65-63. ESPN's Michelle Steele commented on Chambers' play:

With North Carolina leading by as many as 16 and looking like it would cruise to victory, Harvard rallied to make things mighty interesting.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler had an appropriate reaction to the Crimson surge:

Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio noticed the Tar Heels losing composure late:

Although Harvard mounted an 11-0 run to close the gap after a sluggish start, UNC still bounced back to hold an 11-point halftime edge.

ESPN Stats & Info highlighted how much of a one-man show Saunders was offensively in the first 20 minutes:

Even more impressive regarding the Tar Heels' ability to set the tone was that Harvard turned the ball over just once in the opening half.

UNC coach Roy Williams praised his counterpart, Tommy Amaker, prior to the game, noting how Amaker's strengths as a player translated to his Harvard squad, per The New York Times' Tom Spousta:

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I loved Tommy when he was in high school. I thought he was the most complete point guard in his class. He could score; he could defend; he was a coach on the court; he didn’t make silly mistakes. I see the same kind of things in his team.

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Numerous turnovers prevented North Carolina from pulling away, as did a scrappy effort on the offensive glass by the Crimson's undersized frontcourt.

Dan Wolken of USA Today felt the Tar Heels lacked a sense of urgency after jumping out in front:

For all the attention on Saunders' scoring prowess, he was also active on the defensive end, frequently getting his hands into passing lanes and sparking Harvard's resiliency.

However, before the final horn sounded, it was clear who the superior team was in terms of sheer talent, with forward J.P. Tokoto's  emphatic slam putting an end to any debate.

SportsCenter pointed out how successful Williams has been at this juncture of the Big Dance:

Sometimes, that's enough to get by at this stage of the NCAA tournament, and North Carolina's ability to make a living in the paint was the big difference.

Harvard, therefore, can't be too distraught over this defeat. Amaker had guided the Crimson to two NCAA tourney wins in as many previous years. The big question is whether the Ivy League champs can somehow compensate for the void Saunders' impending departure creates.

The Tar Heels can't get by on potential alone if they want to make a serious March Madness run, though. They have been quite inconsistent all season and need to clean up their brand of basketball to advance.

Next up for North Carolina is the winner of the West's second-round matchup between fifth-seeded Arkansas and No. 12 Wofford. Williams' team will be favored against either foe, but Harvard's comeback push ought to scare UNC fans as their players prepare for the round of 32.