North Carolina Tar Heels Triumph Over Syracuse
In a decisive performance at the Carrier Dome, the 16th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels overcame a recent slump to defeat Syracuse 77-64 on Saturday. Henri Veesaar made a notable return to the starting lineup, contributing 19 points to the Tar Heels’ success. The towering center has been a key player for the team, averaging 16.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, but had missed the previous two matchups, including a disappointing 24-point loss to N.C. State earlier this week.
Key Performers
For North Carolina, Seth Trimble and Luka Bogavac provided solid support, each scoring 13 points, while Zayden High chipped in with nine. Despite their efforts, the Syracuse Orange relied heavily on J.J. Starling, who led the team with a strong 22-point performance, including an impressive 14 points in the second half. William Kyle III stood out with eight rebounds, but Syracuse struggled with shooting, managing only three successful 3-point attempts out of 17.
Game Highlights
The game remained competitive until the latter stages when Syracuse briefly tied the match at 44, thanks to a fast break slam by Kyle. However, North Carolina quickly regained momentum with an 8-0 run, effectively sealing their victory. Throughout the game, the Tar Heels capitalized on Syracuse’s 10 turnovers, converting those mistakes into 13 points, and dominated the scoring in the paint, outpacing the Orange 42-32.
Injury Impact and Upcoming Matches
In a continuing trend, Caleb Wilson, who leads the Tar Heels with an average of 19.8 points per game, was sidelined for the third straight contest due to a hand injury, impacting the Tar Heels’ lineup. As they look to maintain their momentum, North Carolina will face Louisville next, while Syracuse prepares to take on Wake Forest in their upcoming game.
Current Standings
This latest victory improves North Carolina’s record to 21-6 overall and 9-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while Syracuse, having lost four of their last six games, now sits at 15-13 and 6-9 in conference play.
