When a player puts together the kind of performance Henri Veesaar did against East Tennessee State, the conversation around “Player of the Game” doesn’t require much debate. Sometimes it’s about the little things - the glue guy plays, the hustle stats, the unsung contributions. But in this case, the numbers were just too loud to ignore.
Veesaar was nearly flawless in North Carolina’s 77-58 win over ETSU, pouring in 26 points on an eye-popping 10-of-11 shooting night. He was perfect from the line (4-for-4), added eight rebounds, two assists, and a block, and did it all without forcing the issue. It was the kind of efficient, dominant performance that anchors a team - and in this case, helped UNC turn a tight contest into a comfortable win.
The first half was tighter than the final score would suggest. ETSU came to play, and for the better part of 18 minutes, they hung around by doing the little things - especially on the offensive glass. The Buccaneers grabbed just enough second-chance opportunities to keep it interesting, and UNC couldn’t quite shake them.
But then came the turning point. With 2:15 left in the first half, the Tar Heels found another gear - and Veesaar was the engine.
Over the next nine minutes of game time, stretching into the second half until the 7:24 mark, Carolina went on a blistering run that blew the game open. They outscored ETSU by 25 during that stretch, and Veesaar was responsible for 18 of those points.
That’s not just a hot hand - that’s a takeover.
What stood out wasn’t just the scoring, but how he did it. Veesaar didn’t hunt shots.
He played within the flow, found his spots, and made ETSU pay every time they gave him an inch. Whether it was finishing around the rim, knocking down free throws, or making smart reads out of the post, he looked every bit the centerpiece UNC needed on this night.
Of course, he didn’t do it alone. Caleb Wilson quietly put together a strong showing of his own with 20 points and eight boards. While he wasn’t quite as efficient as Veesaar, Wilson’s presence in the frontcourt was steady and reliable - the kind of complementary performance that lets a star go to work.
And then there was Kyan Evans. He’s had his ups and downs this season, but this was one of his better outings.
He knocked down a couple of timely threes in the first half when the game was still very much in the balance and finished with six assists. His decision-making and ball movement helped UNC rack up 18 assists on 27 made field goals - a sign of a team that’s sharing the ball and playing connected basketball.
As for ETSU, don’t be surprised if they make some noise come March. They’ve got the look of a team that could be a tough out as a 12 or 13 seed. But on this night, they ran into a UNC squad that found its rhythm - and a big man who simply couldn’t miss.
With ACC play on the horizon, this was the kind of performance the Tar Heels needed. A little early adversity, a strong response, and a dominant stretch that put the game away.
Henri Veesaar set the tone, and the rest of the roster followed. If he can string together more nights like this, UNC’s ceiling gets a whole lot higher.