This will be Tar Heel Nation's first chance to watch new head coach Michael Malone in the Dean Dome. North Carolina fans traveled well to watch Malone's collegiate coaching debut, an 88-70 win over USC on October 9 in Greensboro. UNC then struggled in Malone's first road game, a 76-58 loss at Indiana on October 18.
The Tar Heels will also welcome former players Wes Miller and Marcus Paige back to Chapel Hill. Miller helped North Carolina win the 2005 National Championship, while Paige (2012-2016) won First Team All-ACC in 2014 and delivered that memorable, game-tying shot in the 2016 title game.
UNC has a deeper roster compared to 2025-26, as evidenced by big games from Jarin Stevenson and Sayon Keita. Expect to see additional Tar Heels step up tonight, including Northwestern transfer Cade Bennerman and several walk-ons.
Get real-time updates, scoring plays, turning points, and expert analysis throughout tonight's in-state preseason clash between UNC and Charlotte. Follow along here for highlights, injury news, key plays and instant breakdown as UNC takes on Charlotte in one final exhibition.
UNC vs. Charlotte score
| Half | H1 | H2 | – | Score |
| Charlotte | – | – | – | xx |
| UNC | – | – | – | xx |
UNC vs. Charlotte live updates, analysis
Who's starting for Charlotte?
07:29 PM ET, October 27 2026
Former Tar Heel Wes Miller, now the head coach at Charlotte, will roll with Dorian Finister, Jordi Rodriguez-Stegemeijer, Keyshaun Tillery, Dylan Grant and Michael Walz in his first starting lineup.
All five 49ers are incoming transfers.
Starters for tonight's exhibition vs. Charlotte.
Maximo Adams moves into the lineup in place of Matt Able, who will not play tonight. pic.twitter.com/a5uc0yUG5N
— Carolina Basketball Stats & Info (@UNCMBBStats) October 27, 2026
Can Sayon Keita build off his near double-double?
07:22 PM ET, October 27 2026
Sayon Keita, who projects to be UNC's starting center come the regular season, was his team's best player in a 76-58 loss at Indiana.
Keita scored a career-high 12 points in a North Carolina uniform, grabbing nine rebounds and proving himself as a major post presence.
New addition to the Smith Center
07:16 PM ET, October 27 2026
If you're looking at courtside seats tonight, you'll notice some new additions. Each side of the scorer's table has navy blue padded chairs, with the classic Tar Heel Blue "heel" on the backrest.
Some new court-side seats debuting in the Smith Center tonight. pic.twitter.com/3exmqQrHfJ
— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) October 27, 2026
Who replaces Matt Able in UNC's starting lineup>
07:14 PM ET, October 27 2026
Maximo Adams, the crown jewel of North Carolina's 2026 recruiting class, draws the start over Matt Able tonight. Able wasn't in uniform pregame.
Adams will start alongside Terrence Brown, Neo Avdalas, Jarin Stevenson and Sayon Keita.
Starters for UNC’s final exhibition game:
• Terrence Brown
• Maximo Adams
• Neo Avdalas
• Jarin Stevenson
• Sayon KeitaNOTE: Matt Able OUT tonight
— Isaac Schade (@isaacschade) October 27, 2026
UNC down two key players for preseason finale
07:10 PM ET, October 27 2026
Guard Matt Able, who started each of North Carolina's first two preseason games and center Cameron Fens, who still can't play due to an eligibility issue, weren't in uniform pregame.
Neither Cam Fens nor Matt Able in uniform for #UNCpic.twitter.com/Tv6Crzhv3X
— Michael Koh (@michaelkohwchl) October 27, 2026
2026-27 Charlotte basketball roster
04:03 PM ET, October 27 2026
0 – F Jayden Fort, R-So.
1 – G Dorian Finister, R-Sr.
2 – G Chaze Harris, 5th
3 – C Michael Walz, 5th
5 – G Ryan Evans, Jr.
6 – C Peyton Marshall, Jr.
7 – G/F Jordi Rodriguez-Stegemeijer, So.
8 – G Frank Oguche, R-Fr.
9 – F Dylan Grant, Jr.
10 – G Lance Barnes, Fr.
11 – G Keyshaun Tillery, So.
12 – F Arden Conyers, R-Jr.
13 – F Miguel Allen, Fr.
24 – F/C Tyler McKinley, R-So.
2026-27 UNC basketball roster
04:00 PM ET, October 27 2026
- 1 – G Terrence Brown, Sr.
- 2 – G Isaiah Denis, So.
- 3 – G Matt Able, So.
- 4 – G Jaydon Young, Sr.
- 5 – G/F Kevin Thomas, Fr.
- 14 – G Angelo Brizzi, Gr.
- 15 – F Jarin Stevenson, Sr.
- 17 – G Neo Avdalas, So.
- 21 – C Sayon Keita, Fr.
- 22 – F Alex Samodurov, Jr.
- 25 – F Maximo Adams, Fr.
- 30 – G Malloy Smith, Fr.
- 32 – G Evan Smith, Fr.
- 35 – C Cade Bennerman, So.
- 54 – C Cameron Fens, Gr.
- 99 – F John Holbrook, Jr.
UNC Men's Basketball 2026-27 schedule
03:53 PM ET, October 27 2026
October 9: Exhibition vs. USC Trojans in Greensboro, N.C. (7 p.m.)
Oct. 18: Exhibition at Indiana Hoosiers in Indianapolis (5 p.m.)
Oct. 27: Exhibition vs. Charlotte (7:30 p.m.)
November 2: Season Opener vs. Western Carolina (7 p.m.)
Nov. 6: vs. Wofford (7 p.m.)
Nov. 10: vs. Wyoming (7 p.m.)
Nov. 13: vs. Georgia (7 p.m.)
Nov. 20: vs. Marshall (9 p.m.)
Nov. 23: vs. Monmouth (8 p.m.)
Nov. 27: Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C. (7 p.m.)
December 1: ACC-SEC Challenge vs. Arkansas (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 6: vs. Butler (3 p.m.)
Dec. 12: at Georgetown (12 p.m.)
Dec. 15: Tobacco Road Classic vs. NC State in Greensboro (7 p.m.)
Dec. 19: CBS Sports Clasic vs. Kentucky in New York, N.Y. (2:30 p.m.)
Dec. 21: vs. The Citadel (8 p.m.)
Dec. 30: vs. Cal (4 p.m.)
January 2, 2027: at Boston College (4 p.m.)
Jan. 5: at Louisville (9 p.m.)
Jan. 9: vs. NC State (12 p.m.)
Jan. 13: at Florida State (7 p.m.)
Jan. 16: vs. Stanford (2:15 p.m.)
Jan. 19: vs. Virginia (9 p.m.)
Jan. 23: at Syracuse (12 p.m.)
Jan. 26: vs. SMU (7 p.m.)
Jan. 30: Nashville (Tenn.) Hoops Showdown vs. Illinois in Bridgestone Arena (6 or 6:30 p.m.)
February 2: at Notre Dame
Feb. 6: vs. Georgia Tech (2:15 p.m.)
Feb. 8: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)
Feb. 13: at Duke (5:30 p.m.)
Feb. 20: at Wake Forest (7 p.m.)
Feb. 22: vs. Miami (7 p.m.)
Feb. 27: at Virginia Tech (7 p.m.)
March 2: at Pitt (9 p.m.)
March 6: vs. Duke (6 or 6:30 p.m.)
March 9-13: ACC Tournament in Greensboro
UNC vs. Charlotte injury updates, inactives
03:48 PM ET, October 27 2026
Neither UNC or Charlotte have any reported injuries or inactives ahead of tonight's preseason tilt.
UNC vs. Charlotte prediction
03:41 PM ET, October 27 2026
UNC 82, Charlotte 71. Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time since March, the Tar Heels should thrive in their final preseason tune-up. Malone will likely empty North Carolina's bench, including the walk-ons.
Charlotte will play in its first preseason game, so expect some rust from Miller's squad. The former UNC player has a transfer-heavy team, bringing several guys with him from Cincinnati.
The Tar Heels will rebound from their loss at Indiana, showing their home crowd how good they can be come regular season time.
How to watch UNC vs. Charlotte: TV channel, streaming info
03:39 PM ET, October 27 2026
- UNC vs. Charlotte airs live on ACC Network Extra and will be streamed on WatchESPN
- Tuesday, October 27
- 7:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC vs. Charlotte live updates: Score, predictions, analysis