Wilson & Powell Lead 80-62 Win Over USC Upstate

Saturday, December 13

Chapel Hill

2 p.m.

North Carolina

9-1,0-0ACC

USC Upstate

6-6,0-0Big South

USC Upstate

North Carolina

Caleb Wilson

Photo by: NATE SKVORETZ

December 13, 2025 | Men's Basketball

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By: Matt Bowers

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Caleb Wilson had another double-double and Jonathan Powell tied his career scoring high as 14th-ranked North Carolina dispatched USC Upstate, 80-62, on Saturday afternoon in the Smith Center.

The Tar Heels led virtually from start to finish, shooting 55.6 percent in the first half and using a 14-0 run to build a nine-point lead at halftime. The Spartans hung around for most of the second half before a late Tar Heel run ballooned the final margin to 18 at 80-62.

Wilson recorded game highs with 20 points and 11 rebounds. It was his Atlantic Coast Conference-leading seventh double-double of the season and his 10th double-figure scoring effort in 10 games.

Powell hit 3 of 6 three-pointers and hit 6 of 9 shots overall to finish with 17 points, matching his best effort from two games last season at West Virginia. It was his first double-figure scoring game as a Tar Heel.

"He's a guy that can make shots and today, he not only made shots, but timely shots, especially from three," said UNC head coach Hubert Davis of Powell. "But he's also a really physical defender, very competitive and just has a passion and desire to be a part of this team and this program."

Luka Bogavac also hit three from behind the arc, scoring 15 and tying for the team high with five assists. Henri Veesaar had 10 points and eight rebounds by halftime and finished with 14 and nine, respectively.

UNC shot 50.9 percent from the floor as a team while holding USC Upstate to 37.9 percent. The Tar Heels are 51-4 under head coach Hubert Davis when holding opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the floor and 40-1 when shooting at least 50 percent themselves. UNC has held all of its first 10 opponents under 75 points and improved to 66-9 under Davis when scoring 80 or more.

"I don't think that we were as bought in on defense as we usually are [early in the game]," Powell said afterward. "So I think as the game went on, we started to pick up our effort and intensity. Then it led to us getting the win."

The Tar Heels improved to 9-1 this season with the victory, including 7-0 at home. UNC is 60-9 in five seasons under Davis in the Smith Center.

Carolina shared the ball well, dishing out 20 assists on 28 baskets. Bogavac and Kyan Evans distributed five assists each, with Derek Dixon adding four and Caleb Wilson with three.

"The 20 assists, I felt like we really shared the basketball," Davis said. "We took good shots, we took care of the basketball, and so from that standpoint, I was really happy with the team."

How It Happened
First Half
• The Spartans missed 10 of their first 15 shots but hit 3 of 4 three-pointers to start the game and stay within reach in the early going.
• USC Upstate rallied to lead, 21-20, at the under-8:00 timeout after hitting 5 of 8 from behind the arc in the opening 12 minutes.
• After a 14-0 run, Carolina led, 32-21, and forced an Upstate timeout with 3:10 left in the half.
• The Tar Heels had 12 assists on 15 first-half buckets.
• UNC shot 55.6 percent as a team in the opening 20 minutes while holding the Spartans to 32.4 percent (11 of 34). USC Upstate's six first-half three-pointers kept them within striking distance.
• Seven Carolina players scored in the first half and five had assists.

Second Half
• After Carolina built its biggest lead at 68-52, USC Upstate responded with an 8-0 run to cut its deficit back to single digits.
• The Tar Heels went on a 12-0 burst in the final minutes to make the final margin wider than it had been throughout most of the contest.

Notes
• Saturday's game was the first men's basketball meeting between Carolina and USC Upstate.
• The win was the Tar Heels' 496th in their 41st season playing in the Smith Center, improving to 496-90. UNC is 239-19 in the arena against non-conference opponents.

Up Next
Carolina will return to action on Tuesday night at home against East Tennessee State at 8 p.m. on the ACC Network.