University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Lucas: Virginia Tech Rapid Reactions
February 28, 2026 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the matchup with the Hokies.
By Adam Lucas
1. Carolina played a solid second half in defeating Virginia Tech, 89-82.
2. The Tar Heels weren't very crisp in the first half, but they hung around just long enough to be close and allow their standouts to take over. Henri Veesaar scored 18 of his career-high tying 26 points after the break, and Seth Trimble added 13 of his 20. Neither had been particularly effective in the first 20 minutes, but were big in the decisive moments. Veesaar took almost half his shots from the three-point line in the first half but took seven of his nine attempts from two in the second half.
3. Virginia Tech dictated the tempo in the first half, piling up an 11-2 lead in fast break points. In his halftime interview on the Tar Heel Sports Network, assistant coach Sean May attributed that deficit to some transition defense failures but also to bad shot selection creating some Hokie run-outs. The Heels were much better in that area in the second half, allowing zero points in transition as the game moved into an exclusively halfcourt contest.
4. After a pair of subpar free throw shooting games, the Heels were much better on Saturday. They converted 23 of 30 opportunities, led by an 8-of-8 showing from Zayden High.
5. And a less obvious corollary: Carolina was fairly solid in keeping the Hokies off the line. Mike Young's team is one of the highest-scoring teams in the league at the free throw line in ACC games. They had just 11 attempts (and made them all).
6. Saturday's win tied the program mark for the most home wins in a season. Carolina is now 17-0 at home this season, which ties the 17 wins (in a 17-1 record) in 2011-12. The Heels will go for their sixth undefeated season in the building's history on Tuesday night (the others are 1987, 1993, 2005, 2011 and 2017).
7. Carolina's bench was instrumental in keeping the game close at halftime. The Heels got 12 points from Jonathan Powell on the way to 21 bench points in a half that ended in a 44-44 tie. Almost half of Carolina's field goal attempts (14 out of 29) in the first half were three-point shots, and they made six. Powell finished with 15 and was +12 in the game. The UNC bench had a 32-13 scoring edge on the Hokie reserves.
8. With Jarin Stevenson limited by foul trouble and eventually fouling out, High again provided good minutes. He had 10 points, five rebounds (two offensive), and a series of energy plays that have become his trademark. High was a team-high +13.
9. Another reserve who played well: Kyan Evans. He's had an up and down season, but Saturday was one of his best games even without much scoring output. Evans got on the floor to save a key loose ball with eight minutes left in the second half, played some solid defense and had just one turnover in 24 minutes. He only attempted two shots, but he was steady during a time when the Heels needed it.
10. Hubert Davis will likely talk about Carolina's 14 turnovers. Half of them came from two players, but that total still tied the season high.
11. The Heels obviously miss Caleb Wilson in multiple ways, but he would have been especially useful against Tobi Lawal, who had 16 points and missed only one shot from the field or the line.
12. Saturday's developments in the Atlantic Coast Conference were positive for the Tar Heels. NC State's loss to Notre Dame means Carolina controls its own destiny for a double bye in the ACC Tournament. The Heels close out the home schedule Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Clemson (a note: your parking pass might say 9 p.m. due to a time change after printing deadlines, but the correct game time is 7 p.m.).
13. A reminder that the Tuesday game is senior day for Seth Trimble and Elijah Davis. With the 7 p.m. start, pregame traffic will be a challenge, and fans are encouraged to arrive early in order to participate in senior recognition beginning at 6:30. Trimble could be one of the last four-year seniors with such a major impact that we see. He deserves a huge pregame ovation.
1. Carolina played a solid second half in defeating Virginia Tech, 89-82.
2. The Tar Heels weren't very crisp in the first half, but they hung around just long enough to be close and allow their standouts to take over. Henri Veesaar scored 18 of his career-high tying 26 points after the break, and Seth Trimble added 13 of his 20. Neither had been particularly effective in the first 20 minutes, but were big in the decisive moments. Veesaar took almost half his shots from the three-point line in the first half but took seven of his nine attempts from two in the second half.
3. Virginia Tech dictated the tempo in the first half, piling up an 11-2 lead in fast break points. In his halftime interview on the Tar Heel Sports Network, assistant coach Sean May attributed that deficit to some transition defense failures but also to bad shot selection creating some Hokie run-outs. The Heels were much better in that area in the second half, allowing zero points in transition as the game moved into an exclusively halfcourt contest.
4. After a pair of subpar free throw shooting games, the Heels were much better on Saturday. They converted 23 of 30 opportunities, led by an 8-of-8 showing from Zayden High.
5. And a less obvious corollary: Carolina was fairly solid in keeping the Hokies off the line. Mike Young's team is one of the highest-scoring teams in the league at the free throw line in ACC games. They had just 11 attempts (and made them all).
6. Saturday's win tied the program mark for the most home wins in a season. Carolina is now 17-0 at home this season, which ties the 17 wins (in a 17-1 record) in 2011-12. The Heels will go for their sixth undefeated season in the building's history on Tuesday night (the others are 1987, 1993, 2005, 2011 and 2017).
7. Carolina's bench was instrumental in keeping the game close at halftime. The Heels got 12 points from Jonathan Powell on the way to 21 bench points in a half that ended in a 44-44 tie. Almost half of Carolina's field goal attempts (14 out of 29) in the first half were three-point shots, and they made six. Powell finished with 15 and was +12 in the game. The UNC bench had a 32-13 scoring edge on the Hokie reserves.
8. With Jarin Stevenson limited by foul trouble and eventually fouling out, High again provided good minutes. He had 10 points, five rebounds (two offensive), and a series of energy plays that have become his trademark. High was a team-high +13.
9. Another reserve who played well: Kyan Evans. He's had an up and down season, but Saturday was one of his best games even without much scoring output. Evans got on the floor to save a key loose ball with eight minutes left in the second half, played some solid defense and had just one turnover in 24 minutes. He only attempted two shots, but he was steady during a time when the Heels needed it.
10. Hubert Davis will likely talk about Carolina's 14 turnovers. Half of them came from two players, but that total still tied the season high.
11. The Heels obviously miss Caleb Wilson in multiple ways, but he would have been especially useful against Tobi Lawal, who had 16 points and missed only one shot from the field or the line.
12. Saturday's developments in the Atlantic Coast Conference were positive for the Tar Heels. NC State's loss to Notre Dame means Carolina controls its own destiny for a double bye in the ACC Tournament. The Heels close out the home schedule Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Clemson (a note: your parking pass might say 9 p.m. due to a time change after printing deadlines, but the correct game time is 7 p.m.).
13. A reminder that the Tuesday game is senior day for Seth Trimble and Elijah Davis. With the 7 p.m. start, pregame traffic will be a challenge, and fans are encouraged to arrive early in order to participate in senior recognition beginning at 6:30. Trimble could be one of the last four-year seniors with such a major impact that we see. He deserves a huge pregame ovation.
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/ Men's BasketballCarolina Insider: Rapid Reactions – Men’s Basketball vs. Virginia Tech – February 28, 2026
Sunday, March 01
UNC Men's Basketball: Veesaar, Tar Heels Hold Off Hokies, 89-82
Sunday, March 01
UNC Baseball: Diamond Heels Roll to Third Straight Run-Rule Victory, 12-2
Sunday, March 01
UNC Softball: Barbee, Heels Walk Off Eagles in Game 2, 5-4
Saturday, February 28