Texas A&M Steamrolls UNC to Advance to Sweet 16 of 2018 NCAA Tournament

Junior center Tyler Davis posted 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as the No. 7-seeded Texas A&M Aggies stunned the defending champion and No. 2-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels 86-65 in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday.

The Aggies were 7.5-point underdogs prior to the game, according to OddsShark. However, Texas A&M used its length, athleticism and size to dominate the Tar Heels, who made just six of their 31 three-pointers, lost the battle of the boards 50-36 and had eight of their shots blocked.

Texas A&M trailed 20-13 after eight minutes and 23 seconds, but Davis proceeded to lead the Aggies on a 15-0 run. TexAgs provided the run's relevant details:

UNC had trouble getting any traction on offense, and the length of Texas A&M sophomore forward Robert Williams certainly didn't help matters:

The two teams went back and forth for the rest of the first half before two straight three-pointers propelled the Aggies into a 42-28 halftime lead.

Inside Carolina noted that this was the worst halftime deficit UNC faced all season:

Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports was impressed with the efforts of Davis, who finished the first half with 13 points and seven rebounds:

The Aggies kept their foot on the gas pedal in the second half, extending their lead to as many as 24 points after a layup from junior guard Admon Gilder. Inside Carolina noted that mark set a UNC season high:

Davis also joined the Aggies block party with this stuff:

UNC never seriously threatened the Aggies' lead after halftime, and the defending champion Tar Heels' season came to an unceremonious end.

Senior guard Joel Berry II ended his collegiate career with 21 points, and junior forward Luke Maye added 13 more. Williams led Texas A&M on the glass with 13 rebounds, and freshman guard TJ Starks (21 points), junior forward DJ Hogg (14) and Gilder (12) each hit double figures in scoring.

While the Aggies were big underdogs heading into this matchup, Joe Giglio of The News & Observer noted that they presented an obstacle before the game:

It was a disappointing end to an impressive season for the Tar Heels, who went 26-11 and made the ACC championship.

The Aggies will next face Michigan in a Sweet 16 matchup on Thursday in Los Angeles, California. A win would mark Texas A&M's first Elite Eight appearance in school history.