Overview
- No. 17 North Carolina edged Wake Forest 87-84 for the program’s 500th victory at the Dean E. Smith Center, improving to 14-2 and 2-1 in the ACC.
- Henri Veesaar posted 25 points and nine rebounds and Caleb Wilson added 22 points and 12 boards for his 11th double-double as UNC’s frontcourt set the tone.
- Wake’s Nate Calmese and Juke Harris each scored 28 points, with Calmese hitting seven 3-pointers and missing a contested final shot after Wake cut a 15-point deficit to one.
- UNC managed only two field goals over the final 10 minutes and leaned on late free throws, with perimeter defense again tested as Wake went 14-for-35 from deep following SMU’s 51.9% 3-point outburst.
- NC State routed Florida State 113-69 behind 19-for-35 3-point shooting and a 44-25 rebounding edge, led by Paul McNeil Jr.’s 21 points and Darrion Williams’ 20 points and 10 rebounds to move to 12-5 (3-1 ACC).