Tar Heels Overwhelm Seminoles in Second Half Surge to Open ACC Play
Florida State came into Tuesday night’s ACC opener hoping to make a statement. For the first 25 minutes, they did just that-hanging tough with a red-hot North Carolina squad that’s been steamrolling through its non-conference slate. But as the second half wore on, the wheels came off for the Seminoles, and the Tar Heels took full advantage, pulling away for a 79-66 win in Chapel Hill.
Florida State (7-7, 0-1 ACC) showed early fight, trailing by just six at the break and cutting the deficit to three with 13:34 to play. But then came the cold snap-one that changed the entire complexion of the game.
After missing a key layup that could’ve kept the momentum rolling, the Seminoles lost their rhythm and started settling for perimeter shots. In the span of nine minutes, FSU launched 11 three-point attempts-and missed every single one.
That ill-timed drought opened the door for North Carolina (13-1, 1-0 ACC) to go on a run, stretching the lead to 62-46 with 10 minutes left. From there, the Tar Heels never looked back.
FSU ended the night 12-of-40 from beyond the arc. That’s a volume-heavy approach that only works when the shots are falling-and on this night, they weren’t. Ironically, a buzzer-beating three helped the Seminoles cover the spread, but it was little more than a footnote in a game where UNC’s size and athleticism told the real story.
Inside, the Tar Heels were dominant. They doubled up FSU on offensive rebounds and outscored them 42-20 in the paint.
That’s not just a stat-it’s a reflection of how North Carolina imposed its will physically, especially in the second half. When the Tar Heels are crashing the glass and getting out in transition like they did here-20 fastbreak points with only eight turnovers-they’re tough to beat.
Florida State, to its credit, took care of the ball reasonably well, with just seven turnovers deep into the second half. But they couldn’t generate enough offense in transition-just four fastbreak points-and left too many points at the line, going 8-of-14 on free throws. Against a team like UNC, those missed opportunities add up quickly.
Chauncey Wiggins was a bright spot for the Seminoles, notching a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. But he was matched-and then some-by North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson, who looked every bit the part of a future star with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Wilson was relentless on the glass and efficient around the rim, giving FSU fits all night.
This was a reminder of where both programs are right now. North Carolina is playing with the swagger and depth of a team with championship aspirations. Florida State is still searching for consistency-and the ACC isn’t going to give them much time to find it.
Next up? A visit from the Duke Blue Devils to open the new year. The Tucker Center should be rocking, but the challenge only gets tougher from here.