North Carolina wasted no time setting the tone in Atlanta, steamrolling Georgia Tech 91-75 in a game that felt over not long after it began. The Tar Heels came out firing, dropped 52 points in the first half, and turned the ball over just twice - a masterclass in offensive execution and poise on the road.
From the opening tip, UNC played like a team with something to prove. Georgia Tech held the lead for a grand total of 26 seconds before the Tar Heels took control and never let go.
Caleb Wilson led the charge with a well-rounded performance - 22 points, six boards, and five assists - showcasing the kind of versatility that’s becoming his trademark. Henri Veesaar, despite navigating foul trouble, was a force inside with 20 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring both ends of the floor.
Seth Trimble chipped in 18 points, continuing his steady production, while Luka Bogavac provided a spark off the bench with 16. Bogavac was the only Tar Heel to knock down multiple threes - he hit three - but UNC didn’t need a barrage from deep to control this one. They picked their spots, attacked the rim, and capitalized on nearly every opportunity.
Free throws have been a sore spot for this squad at times, but they were nearly perfect from the line, going 11-for-12. It didn’t swing the game - the lead was too big for that - but it’s the kind of clean execution that can make a difference in tighter matchups down the road.
Defensively, UNC’s pressure paid off. Georgia Tech coughed it up 12 times, and the Heels turned those mistakes into 18 points.
While the rebounding totals were close - UNC held a slim +1 edge - the Tar Heels dominated the offensive glass. Fourteen offensive boards led to 20 second-chance points, a backbreaker for any defense trying to claw back into the game.
Add in 10 steals, and it was clear UNC had the edge in hustle plays all night.
This one was a breath of fresh air for a team that’s been living on the edge lately. So many of their recent games have gone down to the wire, but this was a wire-to-wire win - the kind that gives a team confidence and a little breathing room in the standings.
With the victory, Carolina moves to 5-3 in conference play, sitting 3.5 games behind Duke. That first showdown with the Blue Devils looms next Saturday, and it’s already shaping up to be a big one.
But before the rivalry takes center stage, UNC has to stay locked in. Syracuse comes to Chapel Hill on Monday, and overlooking a conference opponent - especially in February - is a recipe for trouble. The Tar Heels will need to bring the same energy and focus if they want to keep building momentum.