Henri Veesaar’s 26‑point outburst lifts No. 18 North Carolina past Virginia Tech 89‑82, underscoring depth as the Tar Heels eye ACC contention.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Henri Veesaar matched a season‑high with 26 points, while Seth Trimble contributed 20 as the Tar Heels (23‑6, 11‑5 ACC) opened a double‑digit lead midway through the second half.
The decisive run began with a hook shot from Veesaar that sparked a 9‑0 spurt, extending the margin to 73‑63 with 6:59 left. North Carolina closed out the game despite a late surge by the Hokies that trimmed the lead to five.
Virginia Tech’s Neoklis Avdalas finished with 19 points, but the team fell to 18‑11 overall and dropped its third game in four contests. Tobi Lawal and Ben Hammond added 16 each.
North Carolina improved to 17‑0 at home, tying the best start in Dean E. Smith Center history. The win marks the third time this season that Veesaar has reached 26 points, a testament to his growing role as the team’s primary scoring option.
For context on the Tar Heels’ trajectory, see the AP Top 25 poll, which currently ranks them at No. 18.
Injuries have tested depth; Caleb Wilson remains sidelined after fracturing his left hand against Miami on Feb. 10. The AP News injury report notes a 4‑1 record in his absence, highlighting the team’s resilience.
Game Impact
Coach Hubert Davis praised the bench contributions, especially Jonathan Powell’s 15 points, 13 of which came before halftime. The balanced scoring attack mitigates the loss of Wilson and reinforces the squad’s playoff prospects.
Fans are already speculating about potential trade moves before the deadline, wondering whether the front office will add a veteran sharpshooter to complement Veesaar. Such moves could stabilize the second‑unit offense and provide additional rest for the starters.
Looking ahead, North Carolina travels to face Clemson on Tuesday, while Virginia Tech hosts Boston College. Both teams are expected to jockey for improved conference seeds as the regular season nears its climax.
Stay ahead of the conversation — explore more in‑depth analyses on onlytrustedinfo.com for the fastest, most authoritative sports insights.
