Panthers Stun Top-Ranked North Carolina, 71-67

The UNI Panthers pulled off the biggest shocker of the young college basketball season, stunning top-ranked North Carolina, 71-67, at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls on Saturday (Nov. 21, 2015).

(To see photos of historic win and to watch highlights of UNI's upset of top-ranked Kansas in 2010, CLICK HERE.)

The Panthers (2-1) rallied from a 16-point deficit early in the second half. They went on a 29-8 run over a 12-minute stretch of the game and turned a 50-34 deficit into a 63-58 advantage. Matt Bohannon's three-pointer with 2:55 remaining in the game broke a 63-63 tie and put UNI ahead to stay.

Bohannon tallied 19 points and was one of four players to score in double-figures for the Panthers. Wes Washpun led the scoring for UNI, tallying 21 points.

Justin Jackson led the Tar Heels with a game-high 25 points.

North Carolina (3-1) scheduled the game as a welcome home for Marion native and former Linn-Mar High School star Marcus Paige, but a broken hand kept the Tar Heels' All-American on the bench.

Bohannon and Paige were high school teammates.

Replacing Paige was Joel Berry II, who tallied just five points.

The Tar Heels are the highest-ranked opponent to ever visit Cedar Falls.

The victory marked the second time in program history that UNI beat the nation's top-ranked team.

Prior to Saturday, the only other time the Panthers faced a No. 1 squad was in 2010, when they upset Kansas in the second-round of the NCAA Tournament enroute to a Sweet 16 appearance.