Even with a late scare, the North Carolina Tar Heels continued playing a winning brand of basketball on Monday night.
UNC watched its 32-point lead dwindled to six, but hung on for an 87-77 win over Syracuse. North Carolina (18-4, 6-3 ACC) remained perfect at home this season – and carries four straight victories into Saturday’s rivalry clash with Duke.
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Thanks to Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, their two best players who compile the country’s best frontcourt duo, the Tar Heels created a difference-making distance from the Orange (13-10, 4-6 ACC).
Veesaar recorded a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double, surpassing Wilson for most in the ACC. Wilson netted a UNC-best 22 points, scoring 10 of those from the free throw line.
North Carolina’s defense, an area of question throughout the 2025-26 college basketball season, fared well for most of the night. The Tar Heels limited Syracuse to just six perimeter makes – and 16 bench points. Donnie Freeman scored 23 points to lead all players, though, while Naithan George (15) and J.J. Starling (13) also gave UNC fits.
Luka Bogavac continues to be North Carolina’s top bench option, scoring 10 points in 23 minutes. Jonathan Powell continued the Tar Heels’ trend of hot perimeter shooting, nailing a team-high three trifectas – also off the bench. UNC enjoyed a rare night out-shooting its opponent from the free throw line, making 71% of its attempts to Syracuse’s 68%.
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Plenty needs to be addressed ahead of Saturday’s showdown, but a win is a win. Take a look at our top five takeaways from Monday’s victory.
The late-game collapse needs to be addressed
Feb 2, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) is fouled by Syracuse Orange forward Donnie Freeman (1) in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
32-point lead down to six points…really? And in nearly 10 minutes? Late in the second half?
Sure, teams don’t play their best basketball for 40 minutes. That’s understandable. But UNC nearly suffered an embarassing result at home, one that can’t happen.
UNC’s aggressiveness paid off
Feb 2, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) on the free throw line in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
If UNC doesn’t go to the free throw line 35 times against Syracuse, both teams go into overtime or – worse – UNC loses.
The Tar Heels converted on 25 of their 35 (71%) free throw attempts, with Wilson sinking 10 of his 13. The visiting Orange sank just 13-of-19 free throw attempts (68%).
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North Carolina gets to the line plenty, but it struggles to convert. Monday’s output is an encouraging sign.
Luka Bogavac earned himself another turn in the starting lineup
Feb 2, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Luka Bogavac (44) with the ball as Syracuse Orange guard Nate Kingz (4) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Bogavac recorded 10 points in 23 minutes off the bench, his third-consecutive game reaching the 10-point mark. Jaydon Young, who took Bogavac’s place, recorded just two points in nine minutes.
North Carolina’s depth allows it to experiment with several rotations, but Bogavac deserves to start against Duke, particularly with the scoring punch he packs.
Ball-sharing kept Syracuse on its toes
Feb 2, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jarin Stevenson (15) with the ball as Syracuse Orange guard Nate Kingz (4) and guard Naithan George (11) defend in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
UNC ended its night with 16 assists, compared to just six for Syracuse. Four different Tar Heels scored in double-digits, forcing the Orange to pick their poison.
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North Carolina’s ability to move the basketball helped separate itself and build a much-needed, massive lead that later dissappeared.
The 2025-26 Tar Heels are built to beat Duke
Feb 2, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Naithan George (11) with the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels guard Derek Dixon (3) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Cameron Boozer might be the best player in college basketball, but Duke lacks the depth UNC has.
Henri Veesaar is a better center than Patrick Ngongba and, while Isaiah Evans is coming along in Year Two for the Blue Devils, Seth Trimble leads a talented, underrated backcourt for North Carolina.
If the Tar Heels shut Boozer down, the Blue Devils don’t have enough to win in Chapel Hill.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Five takeaways from Monday victory vs. Syracuse
