No. 18 Tar Heels Pull Away Late Behind Henri Veesaar in 89-82 ACC Win

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — No. 18 North Carolina used a decisive second half surge to defeat Virginia Tech 89-82 on Saturday night, strengthening its position in the ACC standings as the regular season enters its final stretch.

The breaking update moves North Carolina to 23-6 overall and 11-5 in conference play, keeping the Tar Heels firmly in contention for improved ACC Tournament seeding. Virginia Tech fell to 18-11 and 7-9, absorbing its third loss in four games and facing renewed pressure in the middle tier of the league race.

Henri Veesaar matched his season high with 26 points, adding seven rebounds while shooting 11 for 20 from the field. It marked his third 26 point performance of the season and provided critical interior scoring as North Carolina navigated another game without leading scorer Caleb Wilson, who remains sidelined with a fractured left hand suffered on Feb. 10 against Miami. The Tar Heels are now 4-1 in Wilson’s absence, a significant development in the latest timeline of their season outlook.

Seth Trimble contributed 20 points, while Jonathan Powell added 15 off the bench, including 13 in the first half to stabilize early offensive stretches.

The teams were tied 44-44 at halftime after multiple lead changes. North Carolina created separation midway through the second half, opening its first double digit lead at 73-63 with 6:59 remaining on a Veesaar hook shot. Virginia Tech trimmed the margin to five with 2:45 left, but the Tar Heels closed effectively at the free throw line despite making just one field goal over the final 6:22.

Neoklis Avdalas led Virginia Tech with 19 points. Tobi Lawal and Ben Hammond each scored 16, providing balanced scoring for a Hokies team that struggled to generate consistent stops during North Carolina’s key second half run.

North Carolina improved to 17-0 at home this season, matching its most home victories in a single season at the Dean E. Smith Center. The program previously recorded 17 home wins during the 2011-12 campaign. That home dominance remains a critical factor in the Tar Heels’ postseason profile and NCAA Tournament positioning.

From an impact perspective, maintaining momentum without Wilson is central to North Carolina’s championship outlook. The team has leaned on front court depth and perimeter efficiency to compensate for his absence, while continuing to protect home court at an elite level within the ACC.

Next steps: Virginia Tech returns home to host Boston College on Tuesday night. North Carolina remains in Chapel Hill to face Clemson on Tuesday in a matchup with direct conference implications.