North Carolina Overcomes Slow Start to Defeat East Tennessee State 77-58
No. 12 North Carolina secured a 77-58 victory over East Tennessee State, led by Henri Veesaar's career-high 26 points and a strong second-half performance.
No. 12 North Carolina overcame a sluggish first half to secure a 77-58 victory over East Tennessee State on Tuesday in Chapel Hill. Henri Veesaar led the Tar Heels with a career-high 26 points, shooting 10-for-11 from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, and added eight rebounds. Freshman Caleb Wilson contributed 20 points and eight rebounds, marking his third consecutive 20-point game.
The Tar Heels (10-1) shot 54% from the field and committed just seven turnovers. They dominated the rebounding battle 35-23 and outscored the Buccaneers 36-22 in the paint.
East Tennessee State (8-4) remained competitive in the first half, trailing 38-30 at halftime. However, North Carolina's defensive pressure and a 12-0 run bridging the halves extended the lead to 45-30. A subsequent 15-point run in the second half, fueled by Veesaar and Jaydon Young, pushed the margin to 66-39 with just over seven minutes remaining.
ETSU was led by Brian Taylor's 14 points and Blake Barkley's 11. The Buccaneers struggled against North Carolina's defense, shooting below 40% from the field.
North Carolina's next game is scheduled against Ohio State in Atlanta as part of the CBS Sports Classic on Saturday at 3 p.m.
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