Tar Heels’ Dominant Exhibition Triumph: Photo Gallery Captures UNC’s 127-63 Rout of Johnson C. Smith

### Tar Heels’ Dominant Exhibition Triumph: Photo Gallery Captures UNC’s 127-63 Rout of Johnson C. Smith

 

**Chapel Hill, NC – November 16, 2025** – In the crisp autumn air of the Dean E. Smith Student Center, the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team delivered a resounding statement ahead of the 2025-26 regular season. The No. 9-ranked Tar Heels dismantled Division II powerhouse Johnson C. Smith University 127-63 in a closed-door exhibition on October 27, a game whose electric moments are now immortalized in Chapelboro.com’s stunning photo gallery. Captured by veteran photographer Todd Melet of the Chapel Hill Media Group, the images paint a vivid portrait of UNC’s reloaded roster: explosive dunks echoing off the rafters, seamless fast breaks, and a sea of Carolina blue overwhelming the court. This wasn’t just a preseason tune-up; it was a coronation for a squad hungry to reclaim ACC supremacy and chase a national title after last season’s Sweet 16 heartbreak.

 

The gallery, accessible at chapelboro.com/photos/unc-vs-johnson-c-smith-2, drops viewers courtside for the 40-minute clinic. Melet’s lens freezes the chaos in crystalline detail: freshman phenom Ian Jackson soaring for a posterizing slam in the second half, his silhouette a blur against the golden backdrop of Johnson C. Smith’s jerseys; senior guard R.J. Davis, returning from a minor preseason tweak, threading a no-look pass to Elliot Cadeau for an alley-oop that ignites the sparse crowd of family, scouts, and media. One standout shot – frame 17 in the 50-image set – captures the moment when transfer wing Drake Powell swats a Golden Bulls layup into the third row, his 6-6 frame coiled like a spring, eyes locked on the rim. “These photos don’t lie,” Melet said in an exclusive interview with Chapelboro. “UNC looked like a machine. Every possession, every defensive stop – it’s the kind of dominance that screams Final Four.”

 

For head coach Hubert Davis, this matchup carried layers of personal resonance. His parents met on the Johnson C. Smith campus in Charlotte, a historically Black university founded in 1867, and his father, Hubert Sr., starred for the Golden Bulls from 1965-69, averaging 10.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. The exhibition, the second in three years between the programs (UNC won 101-40 in 2022), served as more than a goodwill gesture; it was a bridge between eras. “This game honors my family’s roots while preparing us for the grind ahead,” Davis reflected postgame, his voice steady amid the locker room buzz. “JCSU brought heart – they’re a tough D-II squad with 18 wins last season – but our focus was execution.” The Tar Heels honored that spirit with a halftime tribute to Davis Sr., including a video montage of his Golden Bulls highlights that drew applause from both benches.

 

On the stat sheet, UNC’s mastery was surgical. Seven players reached double figures in scoring, led by junior forward Jalen Washington’s 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including three thunderous dunks that Melet immortalized in consecutive frames. Washington, a returning All-ACC honorable mention, feasted inside, contributing to Carolina’s 72-24 paint advantage.<grok:render card_id=”6bebbf” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> R.J. Davis, the preseason ACC Player of the Year, added 16 points and six assists in 22 minutes, his pull-up jumper over a double-team captured in a gallery highlight that has already gone viral on Tar Heel socials. Freshman guard Drake Powell dazzled with 14 points off the bench, his 40% three-point clip from high school translating seamlessly, while Elliot Cadeau dished nine assists, embodying the up-tempo vision Davis preached all fall. The backcourt duo of Ian Jackson (12 points, four steals) and transfer Seth Trimble (15 points on 6-7 shooting) rounded out the fireworks, with Jackson’s coast-to-coast finish after a steal – shoe barely staying on – a fan-favorite in the gallery’s closing shots.

 

Defensively, UNC was a fortress. They forced 22 turnovers, converting them into 26 points, while holding JCSU to 31% shooting.<grok:render card_id=”54f164″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> The paint protection was led by 6-11 freshman center Kwame Evans Jr., whose three blocks loomed large in Melet’s wide-angle lenses, and Maliq Brown, whose 10 rebounds underscored the frontcourt depth. But the game’s signature stat? A pristine 34-0 edge in fast-break points, a testament to Davis’ new practice edict: advance the ball past half-court in three seconds or forfeit possession.<grok:render card_id=”6328a2″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> “We want to be the fastest team in America,” Davis reiterated, and the gallery backs it – frame after frame of blue jerseys sprinting ahead of the pack, leaving Golden Bulls defenders in dust trails.

 

Johnson C. Smith, coached by Steve Joyner and boasting a proud HBCU legacy with 16 CIAA titles, never quit. Guard Marcus Wells led them with 14 points, his crafty hesitation dribble freezing UNC’s perimeter for a rare mid-range bucket, frozen mid-air in Melet’s artistry. The Golden Bulls, who finished 18-12 last year and reached the D-II Elite Eight in 2023, used the spotlight to showcase their grit. “Playing UNC is a dream for our kids,” Joyner said. “Hubert’s class act – this exposure means everything.” Postgame, the teams exchanged jerseys in a sideline huddle, a moment of unity Melet captured with a wide shot of clasped hands under the Smith Center’s iconic tarpaulin roof.

 

This exhibition capped a flawless preseason for the Tar Heels, who went 3-0 including a charity win at Memphis (84-76) and a Blue-White scrimmage. With a roster blending veterans like R.J. Davis (22.5 PPG projected) and Washington alongside five freshmen and three portal additions (including Trimble from Pleasant Grove and Powell from NC State), UNC enters the season ranked ninth in the AP poll.<grok:render card_id=”4b870f” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> The non-conference slate looms large: a neutral-site clash with Kansas on November 10, the Maui Invitational over Thanksgiving, and home dates against Alabama and UCLA. ACC play tips December 7 at Georgia Tech, with rivalry fireworks against Duke on February 1 (away) and March 8 (home). “We’re built for March,” Davis declared, eyeing a return to the title game after a 29-8 campaign marred by an overtime loss to Alabama in the Sweet 16.

 

Beyond the box score, the gallery evokes the soul of Tar Heel basketball. Melet’s portfolio includes intimate portraits: Cadeau’s focused gaze during a timeout, sweat beading on his brow; a bench celebration as the century mark hits (100-56 with eight minutes left); even a candid of walk-on Ethan Mitchell draining a half-court heave at the buzzer, pure joy etched on his face. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) are raving, with #TarHeelTakedown trending locally: “Melet’s shots are better than tickets!” one user posted, sharing frame 32 of Jackson’s windmill dunk. Chapelboro’s coverage, free and community-driven, underscores its role as Chapel Hill’s pulse – no paywalls, just pure hoops passion.

 

As the regular season dawns November 4 against Elon (live on ESPN2), this photo trove serves as a hype reel and historical marker. For JCSU, it’s validation of their program’s rise under Joyner, who boasts a .600 winning percentage since 1999. For UNC, it’s a reminder: talent plus tempo equals terror. In Melet’s final image – the team huddle under the “Carolina Basketball” banner, arms linked – the message is clear. The Tar Heels aren’t just ready; they’re roaring. Download the gallery, hit play on the highlights, and brace for impact. Chapel Hill’s kings are back.

 

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