Three reasons UNC basketball beat Syracuse: How Tar Heels won vs Orange

UNC basketball is back in the winner’s circle after a 77-64 win at Syracuse.

The 16th-ranked Tar Heels (21-6, 9-5 ACC) saw Henri Veesaar return to the starting lineup and got contributions up and down the roster to complete a season sweep of the Orange (15-13, 6-9) at the JMA Wireless Dome.

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Despite Syracuse’s mediocre record, it’s a big victory for UNC, which has struggled in ACC road games this season. The Orange entered the game at No. 72 in the NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) rankings. If Syracuse remains inside the top 75, the road win will remain a Quadrant 1 result for the Tar Heels.

Currently projected to be a No. 6 seed in most brackets, the Tar Heels entered the weekend as a projected No. 5 seed, according to USA TODAY’s March Madness bracketology.

HIGHLIGHTS: Henri Veesaar, UNC basketball beat Syracuse: Score, highlights

Here are three observations from UNC’s win at Syracuse.

Henri Veesaar stats for UNC basketball vs Syracuse

After missing two games with a lower-body issue, UNC center Henri Veesaar returned to the starting lineup, finishing with 19 points, three rebounds and three blocks in 26 minutes. Veesaar scored nine points in the first half, with two rebounds, two blocks and three turnovers in 13 minutes. The 7-footer scored seven points during a key stretch in which UNC made seven shots in a row. When he exited the game late in the first half, Veesaar was riding a stationary bike before returning.

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There were no noticeable signs of sluggishness from Veesaar, who had 10 second-half points and made 9 of 13 shots against the Orange. His two-handed dunk capped an 8-0 run in which UNC took control. As has been the case throughout the season, Veesaar’s production is vital to UNC’s success. He didn’t let the Tar Heels down at Syracuse.

Seth Trimble, Luka Bogavac step up as Tar Heel guards

Following a poor showing at N.C. State, UNC guards Seth Trimble and Luka Bogavac stepped up on the perimeter to give the Tar Heels some punch in the…

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Publish date : 2026-02-21 20:44:00

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