Tar Heels Flip the Switch in Second Half, Power Past ETSU to Move to 10-1
For the first 20 minutes inside the Smith Center, it felt like déjà vu for North Carolina fans. Another mid-major opponent, another sluggish start. But once again, the Tar Heels found their rhythm after halftime and reminded everyone why they’re off to their best start in nearly a decade.
North Carolina shook off a shaky first half and surged past East Tennessee State, pulling away for a 77-58 win. The victory pushes the Tar Heels to 10-1 on the season-Hubert Davis’ best start through 11 games as head coach and the program’s strongest opening since the 2017-18 campaign.
First Half Struggles, Then a Spark
For the third straight game, Carolina let its opponent dictate the tempo early. ETSU found comfort zones on offense, hitting shots in rhythm and crashing the offensive glass to generate second-chance opportunities. With just over two minutes left in the half, the Tar Heels led by only two.
But then came the shift.
A 9-3 run to close the half gave Carolina a little breathing room heading into the locker room. It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough to plant the seeds for what was coming.
Second Half Surge: Defense Turns the Tide
Whatever Hubert Davis said in the locker room clearly landed. Carolina came out of the break with a different level of energy-especially on the defensive end. The Tar Heels turned up the pressure, sped up ETSU’s offense, and forced them into rushed shots and key turnovers.
That defensive intensity sparked a 9-2 run to open the second half, stretching the lead to 15. From there, it was all Tar Heels.
A 15-0 run midway through the half blew the game wide open, turning a 12-point cushion into a 27-point statement. By the time the final horn sounded, all 15 players had seen the floor, and Carolina had secured its 10th win of the season.
Henri Veesar Dominates Inside and Out
The star of the night? Henri Veesar, and it wasn’t even close.
The big man was nearly flawless, dropping a career-high 26 points on an eye-popping 10-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed eight rebounds and anchored the frontcourt on both ends.
In a first half where Carolina struggled to find consistency, Veesar was the steadying force. In the second half, he was the finisher.
Veesar’s ability to stretch the floor, finish inside, and defend the paint continues to make him one of the most valuable additions to this team. ETSU had no answers for him-and frankly, not many teams have this season.
Caleb Wilson Delivers Again
Right alongside Veesar was freshman forward Caleb Wilson, who added 20 points and eight boards of his own. His first-half dunk didn’t officially start Carolina’s late-half run, but it felt like the emotional spark the team needed.
Wilson’s ability to get to the free-throw line was a game-changer again. He went 7-of-10 from the stripe and drew multiple fouls with his aggressive drives. Impressively, he’s now made at least five free throws in every game this season-a testament to how consistently he’s putting pressure on defenses.
His scoring average continues to pace all Tar Heel freshmen historically, sitting ahead of even Tyler Hansbrough’s legendary freshman campaign.
Jonathan Powell’s Defense Makes a Statement
The box score might not tell the full story, but Jonathan Powell’s impact was undeniable. While his scoring was quiet, his defense was loud.
Inserted into the starting lineup for the second half, Powell made life miserable for ETSU’s perimeter players. His off-ball awareness and effort stood out, cutting off passing lanes and forcing tough looks. It’s the kind of gritty, detail-oriented defense that doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet-but absolutely shows up on film.
It’s becoming increasingly clear: Powell has earned more minutes, and he’s making the most of them.
Point Guards Steady the Ship
It wasn’t a night for highlight-reel moments from Carolina’s point guards, but they did exactly what was needed.
Kyan Evans hit a pair of timely threes in the first half and dished out a team-high six assists-bringing his two-game total to 11 assists with zero turnovers. That’s the kind of floor leadership coaches dream about.
Derek Dixon added seven points in limited minutes, including a three-pointer and a perfect 4-for-4 showing from the free-throw line. He also pulled down three rebounds in just 14 minutes, doing a little bit of everything to help Carolina keep control.
Final Takeaway
This wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was another example of how this Tar Heels team can flip the switch when it matters. They’ve now shown multiple times this season that they can adjust, refocus, and take over games in the second half.
With Veesar and Wilson leading the way-and role players like Powell, Evans, and Dixon stepping up-this team is building something real. Ten wins in eleven games.
The best start in years. And the kind of depth and defensive potential that could carry them deep into March.
If they keep defending like they did in the second half, the ceiling only gets higher from here.