MBB Rallies Past Syracuse, 77-64

Saturday, February 21

Syracuse, N.Y.

1 p.m.

North Carolina

21-6,9-5ACC

Syracuse

15-13,6-9ACC

North Carolina

Syracuse

Henri Veesaar returned to the lineup on Saturday.

Photo by: Maggie Hobson

February 21, 2026 | Men's Basketball

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By: Matt Bowers

SYRACUSE, N.Y. —Henri Veesaar returned to the lineup and scored 19 points to lead No. 16 North Carolina to a 77-64 road win at Syracuse on Saturday afternoon in the JMA Wireless Dome. Carolina shot 61.5 percent in the second half to pull away from the Orange and grab the win.

With the win, the Tar Heels improved to 21-6 this season overall and 9-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Syracuse lost for the eighth time in 11 games to fall to 15-13, 6-9.

Veesaar started at center after missing the previous two games with an illness and a lower extremity injury. He hit 9 of 13 shots on the day.

"Henri had a huge impact on the game," head coach Hubert Davis said on the Tar Heel Sports Network after the game. "Having him back in the lineup was huge."

After leading by five points at halftime at 33-28, Carolina shot 16 for 26 in the second half to pull away and sweep the season series with the Orange. UNC also beat Syracuse, 87-77, earlier this month in Chapel Hill.

Seth Trimble went scoreless in the first half but starred in the second, hitting 4 of 6 shots with 13 points after halftime, adding five rebounds. Luka Bogavac also scored 13 and grabbed six rebounds to tie his season high. Zayden High scored nine points with a career-high 11 boards, barely missing his second consecutive double-double and continuing his recent hot play.

JJ Starling led all scorers with a season-high 22 points on 10 of 19 shooting for Syracuse.

The UNC defense limited Syracuse to 3 of 17 three-point shooting while outscoring the Orange, 13-4, in points off turnovers. Carolina also dominated fast break points, 19-9

The Tar Heels started slowly, missing 11 of their first 15 shots, but rallied and led, 33-28 at the break. In the second half, Carolina shot 16 for 26 to finish at 51.9 percent in the game.

How It Happened
First Half
• Veesaar started after missing two games and played well in the first half, hitting 4 of 5 shots (including hitting his only three-point try) and leading all scorers with nine first-half points.
• Carolina missed 11 of its first 15 shots but trailed by just three, 12-9, at the second media timeout.
• Jonathan Powell helped rally the Tar Heels early in the game. He hit a three-pointer from the wing to tie it at 12-12, Veesaar followed with a lefthanded jump hook and Powell hit another three-pointer for a 17-14 lead.
• The Tar Heels hit seven straight shots and held Syracuse without a field goal for nearly four minutes to take a 30-22 lead with under four minutes left in the period.
• UNC started the half shooting 4 for 15, then hit seven shots in a row and finished the half by hitting 8 of 13 attempts despite going without a field goal in the final 2:36 of the half
• The Tar Heels hit 5 of 11 three-point tries in the half while the Orange went 1 for 8.

Second Half
• Trimble scored six points in a row for the Tar Heels, who went on an 8-0 run to take a 52-44 lead. Carolina held Syracuse scoreless for 2:18 before the Orange called timeout with 9:49 remaining.
• Trimble's three-point play with 8:06 to play gave Carolina its first double-digit lead at 56-46 with 8:06 left.
• High hit his second three-pointer of the year to give UNC its biggest lead at 59-48 at the 7:21 mark.
• Syracuse missed 8 of 10 shots late in the game as Carolina took a 65-53 lead with 3:42 to play.
• Carolina started the second half shooting 3 for 9 but hit 13 of its next 17 attempts to close the half. Meanwhile, Syracuse started the period 7 for 12 but then went 6 for 18 afterward.
• UNC outscored the Orange, 44-36, in the second half.

Up Next
Carolina has a quick turnaround and will host No. 21 Louisville on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Smith Center on ESPN.