UNC vs. Texas: Score, Highlights and Reaction from 2015-16 Regular Season

Javan Felix sank a buzzer-beating jumper to push the Texas Longhorns to an 84-82 win over the No. 3-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday in one of this young season's most exciting games yet.

The referees conducted a lengthy review to confirm the incredibly close call, as the ball appeared to leave Felix’s fingers narrowly before time expired.

ESPN shared a clip of the remarkable shot:

The Longhorn Network shared footage of fans celebrating after:

Felix’s game-winner marked the fifth lead change over the final eight minutes, beginning when he gave the Longhorns their second advantage of the game on a three-pointer that helped Texas build momentum.

Felix finished with a game-high 25 points, three rebounds and an assist. He got help from Isaiah Taylor, who contributed 18 points, five assists and three rebounds.

For the Tar Heels, Saturday’s loss was another early-season disappointment, just three weeks after the preseason No. 1 fell to unranked Northern Iowa.

UNC opened with a 7-0 run, and Texas didn’t take its first lead until nearly 10 minutes into the game. The Longhorns kept it close in the first half and trailed 44-42 at the break.

Star UNC point guard Marcus Paige, in his third game back after recovering from a broken hand, finished with 20 points, four rebounds and three assists. He was one of four Tar Heels to reach double digits, along with Isaiah Hicks (14 points), Brice Johnson (14) and Justin Jackson (15).

The Tar Heels have four nonconference games remaining before diving into ACC play Dec. 30 against Clemson.

The Longhorns are in the lower echelon of an incredibly competitive Big 12, which includes five teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25—three in the Top 10.

But a big win over a Final Four favorite such as North Carolina is encouraging for first-year head coach Shaka Smart, as ESPN analyst Jay Bilas tweeted:

Smart replaced Rick Barnes, who had been at the helm in Austin since 1998 and made the NCAA tournament in all but one year.

But the athletic department determined that the program needed new blood, and Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman noted the contrast:

After a slow start, Texas is now 6-3 and remains unranked, though that’s likely to change following Saturday’s gutsy win. With the victory over UNC, the Longhorns proved they could be in the early stages of a great season.

Postgame Reaction

Chris Tavarez of KXAN shared a photo of Smart and Felix hugging after the referees announced the shot good:

Felix, a senior, said after that he took the shot with a self-assurance that he didn’t hone earlier in his career, per Nick Castillo of the Dallas Morning News:

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams offered a great assessment of Felix’s heroics, per Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express News:

Myron Medcalf of ESPN.com argued this was the type of game Smart needed to cement his hire and catapult Texas moving forward:

"

This is what he needed to kick off the next chapter. This is how you convince recruits that you’re ready to build something. This is how you convince fans to trust you. Smart’s squad outplayed a team that many view as the favorite to win the national title. Wow.

"

In this young season, Texas appears to be trending upward. Meanwhile, North Carolina has to be concerned with two early losses to a pair of unranked opponents.