Tar Heels Surge Past Syracuse with Second-Half Run, Hold On Late for 87-77 Win
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - For about 30 minutes on Monday night, North Carolina looked every bit like a team ready to make noise in March. The 14th-ranked Tar Heels came out of halftime with a 26-9 burst that blew the game wide open and built a lead as large as 32 before holding off a furious Syracuse rally to win 87-77 at the Smith Center.
It was a tale of two halves - or more accurately, a tale of 30 minutes of dominance followed by nearly 10 minutes of survival. Carolina’s second-half explosion was fueled by the usual suspects, with standout freshman Caleb Wilson and big man Henri Veesaar leading the way.
But the closing stretch? That was a wake-up call.
“We always talk about finishing - finishing halves, possessions, games - and that last nine and a half minutes, that wasn’t us,” the Tar Heels’ head coach said bluntly postgame. “Credit to Syracuse.
Coach Autry has those guys playing hard, and they’ve got talent. But we let up, and that can’t happen.”
Still, for most of the night, Carolina controlled the tempo, the paint, and the scoreboard.
Wilson Adds to Freshman Legacy
Caleb Wilson continues to play like anything but a freshman. He dropped 22 points and grabbed nine boards, hitting 10 of 13 from the free throw line.
It marked his 22nd straight game scoring in double figures - a Tar Heel record - and his 16th 20-point performance, the most ever by a Carolina freshman. He’s now hit the 20-point mark in 12 of the last 14 games.
The numbers are impressive, but it’s the consistency that’s turning heads. Wilson has become the engine of this team, and his ability to get to the line and score through contact adds a layer of poise that’s rare for a first-year player.
Veesaar Dominates Inside
Henri Veesaar was a force down low, notching his 12th double-double of the season with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 11 rebounds. He was active on both ends, anchoring the defense and giving the Tar Heels second-chance opportunities that helped stretch the lead early in the second half.
His chemistry with Wilson continues to grow, and when both are clicking, Carolina has a one-two punch that’s tough to slow down.
Bench Production Making a Difference
Jonathan Powell stepped up with 12 points - his first double-digit scoring game in 13 outings - and hit three of his four attempts from beyond the arc before fouling out. Luka Bogavac added 10 off the bench, and the Tar Heel reserves outscored Syracuse’s bench 29-16.
“It’s big to have guys on the bench you can trust to make timely shots down the stretch,” Wilson said. “We feel like we’ve got that.”
That depth could be a game-changer as the season wears on, especially with ACC battles piling up.
A Game of Runs
Carolina came out of the break with a 23-8 run in the first 8:27 of the second half, pushing the lead to 29 and seemingly putting the game out of reach. They led 69-40 at the second media timeout and extended the margin to 32 shortly after.
But then the wheels started to wobble.
Syracuse outscored UNC 37-15 over the final 9:38, trimming the lead to single digits with under a minute to play. Donnie Freeman, who had 18 points in the first half and finished with 23, helped ignite the late push. The Orange hit a three to make it 82-72 with 1:26 left, forcing a Carolina timeout.
“We got to that 28-point lead, and I think we just relaxed,” Veesaar said. “Felt like the game was over.
Then they started hitting shots, and we panicked. We didn’t stay calm.
That’s a lesson - you can’t ever let off the gas.”
By the Numbers
- Carolina shot 53.3% in the first half and finished 8-of-18 from three (44.4%). They’re now 13-2 when scoring 80+ points and have won 21 straight when making more threes than their opponent.
- The Tar Heels have out-rebounded 18 of 22 opponents this season and are 105-26 under Coach Davis when winning the rebounding battle.
- UNC is now 19-7 all-time against Syracuse, including a perfect 8-0 in Chapel Hill since the Orange joined the ACC.
Setting the Tone Early
The Tar Heels led for all but 16 seconds of the first half, jumping out to a 12-8 lead at the second media timeout. A pair of threes from Veesaar and Powell helped UNC open up a double-digit lead at 23-12.
Syracuse answered with a 7-for-7 shooting stretch to close the gap to 34-29, but Carolina responded with a 12-0 run to push it back to 46-29. The Tar Heels led 46-32 at halftime, with Freeman’s 18 first-half points keeping the Orange within striking distance.
Second Half Surge - and Scare
UNC’s second-half start was electric. They opened with a 13-2 run and held Syracuse to just 4-of-17 shooting in the first 10 minutes of the half. But the late-game lapse nearly erased all of that.
Still, the Tar Heels never let the lead slip to fewer than eight and closed it out at the line.
What’s Next
Carolina improves to 18-4 overall and 6-3 in ACC play with its fourth straight win. Syracuse, now 13-10 (4-6 ACC), has dropped five of its last six.
Up next? A heavyweight showdown.
The Tar Heels will host No. 4 Duke on Saturday night in the Smith Center - a rivalry that needs no introduction.
If Carolina wants to keep building momentum, they’ll need a full 40-minute effort. Because as Monday night reminded them, even a 30-point cushion can vanish in a hurry.