In their most recent high-profile meeting, the 9th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the JCSU Golden Bulls in an exhibition game at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
: UNC saw seven players score in double digits , shooting 61% from the field in the first half alone. Johnson C. Smith v North Carolina - Link 2
: Following their conference victory, the Golden Bulls made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs as a No. 2 seed. JCSU Football 2025 CIAA Champions!! In their most recent high-profile meeting, the 9th-ranked
The matchup between and the University of North Carolina (UNC) primarily takes place in men's basketball, often as an exhibition game that highlights the regional connection between these two historic North Carolina institutions. Recent Matchup: October 27, 2024 2 seed
While "North Carolina" often refers to the UNC Tar Heels, JCSU maintains fierce, long-standing rivalries with other state-based institutions:
: Despite the final score, JCSU kept the game highly competitive early on, trailing by just a single bucket ( 25-23 ) at the 8:53 mark in the first half before the Tar Heels went on a decisive 34-11 run.
The university is currently experiencing a massive athletic resurgence: