At the break inside the electric Dean E. Smith Center, No. 16 North Carolina men’s basketball holds a 44-39 lead over Georgetown. What began as a sluggish, uneven start quickly transformed into a half marked by stretches of rhythm, resilience and renewed confidence — especially following UNC’s dramatic win over Kentucky just days ago. The Tar Heels didn’t immediately seize control, but as the game unfolded, they found sharper execution, stronger finishing around the rim and key sparks from both the frontcourt and the backcourt.
Junior center Henri Veesaar and first-year forward Caleb Wilson once again anchored UNC’s scoring effort. The duo combined for 22 points on an efficient 7-for-12 clip, continuing their trend as the foundation of UNC’s offense this season. Wilson’s inside-out versatility and Veesaar’s soft touch in the paint repeatedly caused problems for the Hoyas’ interior defense. Their consistent production opened up space for others to finally join the scoring party — a welcome sign for a Tar Heel team that has needed better balance.
Yet the most notable storyline of the half was the noticeable rise in backcourt energy and impact. Kyan Evans, quiet and limited to just two points against Kentucky, delivered a much-needed bounce-back performance. In the opening 20 minutes, the junior guard poured in 7 points on 3-for-5 shooting, looking far more aggressive in attacking downhill and much more confident in his jump shot. His willingness to push the pace and take shots in rhythm created greater fluidity for UNC’s offense, which had been too reliant on its frontcourt stars in previous games.
While Evans rediscovered his offensive stride, first-year standout Derek Dixon continued to build on what many viewed as a breakout performance earlier in the week. Dixon’s poise and efficiency once again stood out — 8 points on 3-for-4 shooting, including two deep three-pointers. More importantly, he displayed a steady command of the offense, making reads with maturity and showing flashes of true lead-guard instincts. Each game, Dixon looks more like a player vying for an expanded role, perhaps even making a subtle case to eventually become the full-time starting point guard.
Junior guard Luka Bogavac also contributed with confident touches, helping complete a three-guard unit that compiled 20 points in the first half. For context, that same backcourt combined for just 23 points across the entire game
