UNC Tar Heels Knock Off Florida State Seminoles

It wasn’t always pretty, but UNC found a way to muscle through the mud and open ACC play with a 79-66 victory over Florida State. At 13-1, the Tar Heels are rolling, even if this particular win felt more like a blue-collar shift than a highlight reel.

A Start That Only a Coach Could Love

If you tuned in late, you did yourself a favor. The opening minutes were a masterclass in brick-laying. UNC missed its first four shots and started a dismal 1-of-8 from the field. It was the kind of start that makes you double-check if the rim is actually regulation size. Luckily for the home crowd, Florida State wasn’t exactly lighting it up either, limping out to a 2-of-7 start.

It felt like the Tar Heels were sleepwalking through the first media timeout, but eventually, the coffee kicked in. After falling behind early, North Carolina woke up with a 15-5 run that changed the complexion of the game. It was less about finesse and more about sheer will, as they took a sloppy game and started molding it into a lead.

The Caleb Wilson Takeover

Let’s be real: without Caleb Wilson, this recap might look very different. The freshman forward was an absolute monster in the paint, playing like a guy who realized midway through the first half that nobody on the Seminoles could actually stop him.

Wilson posted a stat line that makes fantasy owners drool: 22 points and 16 rebounds. He was the engine when the rest of the offense was sputtering. Whether he was cleaning up missed shots or slamming home one-handed dunks over helpless defenders, Wilson brought the energy UNC desperately needed. He had 14 points by halftime, basically carrying the offense on his back while everyone else tried to find their rhythm.

Second Half Scaries and the Knockout Punch

Just when it looked like UNC might cruise, the “second half scaries” crept in. The Tar Heels came out of the locker room cold again, missing five straight threes. Florida State, pesky as ever, took advantage of the snooze button and cut the lead to a single point. For a second, the upset alert started flashing neon red.

But championship-caliber teams know how to shut the door, and that’s exactly what UNC did. Sparked by Henri Veesaar and some clutch shooting from Kyan Evans, the Heels ripped off an 11-0 run that essentially put the game on ice. Evans tied his season-high with 15 points, hitting big shots exactly when the momentum seemed to be slipping.

By the time Seth Trimble threw down a fast-break dunk in the final minute, the result was sealed. It wasn’t a Picasso, but it was a “W.” And with a trip to SMU on the horizon, UNC will take it.