02/02/26 08:45:00
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02/02 20:43 CST Caleb Wilson scores 22 points to lead No. 14 North Carolina
past Syracuse, 87-77
Caleb Wilson scores 22 points to lead No. 14 North Carolina past Syracuse, 87-77
By DOUG BONJOUR
Associated Press
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) --- Caleb Wilson had 22 points and nine rebounds as No.
14 North Carolina held off Syracuse 87-77 on Monday night after building a
32-point lead midway through the second half.
Syracuse shaved the deficit to six with 42 seconds remaining before the Tar
Heels finally closed it out from the free-throw line.
Henri Veesaar added 17 points and 11 boards for his Atlantic Coast
Conference-leading 12th double-double. Jonathan Powell scored 12 points and
Luka Bogavac had 10 for the Tar Heels (18-4, 6-3), who will carry a four-game
winning streak into Saturday's showdown with No. 4 Duke in Chapel Hill.
Wilson went 6 of 14 from the field and reached 20 points for the 16th time,
most by a UNC freshman.
Donnie Freeman finished with 23 points and eight rebounds to lead Syracuse
(13-10, 4-6), which lost for the fifth time in six games. Naithan George added
15 points.
The Tar Heels led 72-40 with 9:40 left before Syracuse made it respectable late
with an 11-1 run.
Back-to-back 3s by Veesaar and Powell gave UNC its first-double digit lead at
23-12. Syracuse hit seven straight shots to get back within five, but the Tar
Heels answered with a 12-0 spurt to open a 46-32 advantage at halftime.
Eighteen of Freeman's points came in that first half, when the Orange shot 44%
but committed nine turnovers.
Up next
Syracuse visits No. 18 Virginia on Saturday.
North Carolina hosts No. 4 Duke on Saturday.
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