On Sunday the University of North Carolina men's basketball team was knocked out of the NCAA tournament by Georgetown. While defeats in sports are often described in terms of loss, tragedy, disaster, etc., UNC suffered the real thing two days before, just hours before the tip-off of their round-of-16 game against the University of Southern California.

While attending Friday's game at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ, I heard murmurs about some accident involving a person from UNC, but it wasn't until Sunday's game that I got the whole story. The student who played "Rameses," the Tar Heels' mascot at UNC games, had been struck by a car and severely injured while walking along a highway to return to his hotel after a trip to a nearby convenience store. The driver of the vehicle immediately stopped and tried to give assistance, and will not be charged.

Jason Kendall Ray, a 21-year-old UNC student, was by all accounts an enthusiastic mascot during his three years playing Rameses. Supposedly a number of UNC students offered to come to New Jersey to serve as a substitute mascot, but in the end North Carolina played their two games cheered on by a band and cheerleaders, but no Rameses. But Jason Ray was no doubt on the minds of the players and supporters during their time at the NCAA Regionals.

Many of Jason Ray's friends and family members gathered over the weekend at the hospital where the business administration major had been in critical condition. Many of Ray's friends and family members gathered over the weekend at the hospital where the business administration major had been in critical condition. A prayer session was held on the UNC campus on Sunday.

During Sunday's game, which gave the winner a trip to the Final Four, The Georgetown Hoyas rallied from 11 points down to tie UNC 81-81 at the end of regulation, forcing an overtime period. Georgetown would score the first 14 points of the extra session to defeat the number-one seed Tar Heels.

Considering their disappointment at the outcome of the game, it's perhaps best that the Tar Heel players and fans were back home when they received the crushing news: Jason Kendall Ray died of his injuries on Monday morning at 8:38 a.m.

His organs will be donated to the Sharing Network of New Jersey, his family said. Jason Ray's family has set up a memorial funds that will accept contributions.