CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) — University of North Carolina basketball legend Walter Davis died of natural causes Thursday, according to the university’s athletics department.
Davis, 69, played for Head Coach Dean Smith from 1973-1977. He led the Tar Heels to an ACC Tournament title and an appearance in the NCAA championship game. In that championship game, Davis scored 20 points to lead all scorers, but the Tar Heels fell to Marquette 67-59. That Marquette team was coached by Al McGuire, who would retire from coaching after that game and move on to a proficient broadcasting career, notably calling some landmark games alongside ACC basketball legend Billy Packer.
Davis is also remembered for hitting a 25-foot shot at the buzzer against Duke in 1974. That shot capped an incredible comeback that saw the Tar Heels erase an 8-point Duke lead in the final 17 seconds of regulation. Davis’ shot sent the game to overtime, where the Tar Heels would win.
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