The UNC basketball program's return to the Dean Smith Center was a great one!
North Carolina snapped another drought, defeating Georgetown for the first time since 1999, knotting up the all-time series between the two programs in the process.
The short-handed Hoyas did everything they could to ensure that Caleb Wilson wouldn't beat them. However, Wilson wasn't fazed by the double teams and extra attention, as he and fellow front court mate Henri Veesaar had an absolute field day to lead the Tar Heels to their eighth win of the 2025-2026 season.
The Dynamic Duo
Wilson led all scorers with 20 points, his fifth 20-point outing of his young college career. With 14 rebounds, the freshman forward recorded his sixth double-double in just 9 games, continuing to prove that he is an absolute problem on both ends of the floor for opposing teams to handle.
Veesaar joined the double-double party, recording a career-high 15 rebounds. He scored 18 points, knocking down two of his three shots from beyond-the-arc in the process, as the big man's takeover of the game over the final 10 minutes of the first half helped the Tar Heels start to pull away.
The turning point
North Carolina went on a 12-2 run over a span of 3:25 in the second half, giving them a 15-point lead with 13:25 left in regulation. The Tar Heels would extend the lead to 18 with 3:58 to play and would eventually secure a 20-point victory.
It was the run just before the under-12 media timeout that felt like the dagger in Georgetown's upset hopes.
Derek Dixon
How does a freshman guard follow-up his clutch performance down the stretch in a road victory over top-25 ranked Kentucky?
Well, how's a career-best performance sound to you?
Dixon continued his hot stretch, scoring a career-high 14 points over 26 minutes of action. He connected on a trio of three-pointers, providing strong minutes once again (especially with Kyan Evans dealing with foul trouble).
What's next?
With finals week approaching in Chapel Hill, the UNC basketball program won't play until next Saturday. The Tar Heels will host USC Upstate in a Saturday afternoon non-conference tilt at the Dean Smith Center, the first of three games that North Carolina will play in a seven-day span.