North Carolina men's basketball routs ECU at home, 99-51

Shelby Swanson, The News & Observer on Dec 22, 2025

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — After a nail-biter on Saturday in Atlanta, No. 12 North Carolina men’s basketball treated its home crowd to a comfortable 99-51 win over ECU to close out nonconference play.

The game had tilted so far in UNC’s favor that, by the later minutes of the second half, the loudest sound from the crowd was the jeering of a lone — and very loud — ECU fan in the upper level of the Dean E. Smith Center. With just under two minutes remaining, UNC cleared its bench, allowing Hubert Davis’ son, Elijah, and Ivan Matlekovic to record their first points as Tar Heels.

The Tar Heels (12-1) are now 5-0 all-time against the Pirates (5-8) and 4-0 on the season in games Seth Trimble has played.

North Carolina led by 23 points at the half and stretched its lead to as much as 46 points after halftime. Caleb Wilson led UNC in scoring (21), rebounds (four), blocks (four) and free throws attempts (he went 7 of 13 from the line) but also turned the ball over a team-high four times. Wilson’s 21 points makes him the second freshman in program history to record 20 or more in five straight games. Phil Ford was the first.

Henri Veesaar also recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Luka Bogavac added 15 points and Trimble recorded 12.

North Carolina will take a break for the holidays before returning on Dec. 30 to host Florida State and open ACC play.

Here’s what we learned from Monday night’s contest:

Stevenson impresses in the post

Jarin Stevenson said he’s been getting more practice reps recently in the post and had been “gearing up” toward a performance like Saturday, which saw the Alabama transfer paired in stretches with Wilson in the frontcourt.

“I think that’s one of my biggest traits and things that I bring to the team — being able to play multiple positions and just bring different looks for the team,” Stevenson said on Saturday. “If somebody’s in foul trouble, I just take us through.”

Stevenson’s versatility can also bail the Tar Heels out of trouble if a pick-and-roll action forces him to switch onto a five — a position he picked up multiple times on defense against Ohio State.

UNC’s contest against ECU showed that this role for Stevenson isn’t just a flash in the pan.

On Monday night, Davis’ first substitutions — made roughly five minutes into the game — created a lineup with Wilson and Stevenson in the post. The next round of substitutions, just a few minutes later, left Stevenson on the floor to play alongside Veesaar.

Stevenson played in multiple lineups alongside Wilson or Veesaar in the post against ECU — another example of the flexibility that Trimble’s return gives Davis in terms of rotation options.

Tar Heels still tinkering with backcourt rotation

UNC went with the same starting lineup again on Monday night of Bogavac, Kyan Evans, Veesaar, Trimble and Wilson.

Against Ohio State on Saturday, Evans and Bogavac played a combined 29 minutes, compared to an eye-popping 24 for Derek Dixon and 27 for Stevenson. Jonathan Powell, who also came off the bench, recorded 15 minutes against the Buckeyes.

On Monday night, Evans’ minutes (17) were more in line with those of Dixon (11) and Stevenson (17).

Bogavac saw a notable increase in playing time against ECU. He had managed just four points over UNC’s last two games, but that total in less than two minutes against the Pirates when he opened the contest with two layups.

Bogavac played just five minutes in the second half against the Buckeyes. Evans and Bogavac shot a combined 0 for 5 in that game, all shots taken from 3-point range.

On Monday night, Bogavac put his hands on his face — in a prayer-like formation — after he sank a 3-pointer in the second half. Bogavac opened the season by recording at least one triple in 10 straight games, but had gone cold since UNC’s Dec. 13 win over USC Upstate.

Evans shot 1 for 3 from deep against ECU.

Veesaar continues to drain it from deep

What if I told you, at the beginning of this season, that North Carolina’s incoming seven-footer from Arizona would be the team’s top threat from the perimeter?

Well, that’s the reality right now in Chapel Hill. After a career-best 4 for 5 performance from deep, Veesaar is now shooting nearly 53% from 3 on the season. That’s the best percentage on the team with a minimum of six or more attempts. Second-best is Dixon with a 45.5% clip on the year so far.

“I believe that we can be a really good 3-point shooting team,” Davis said on Saturday. “Thus far, we haven’t been that good. That’s something that I’m waiting for, because I just feel like there’s a number of guys that are getting consistent with shots from the outside, and that’s going to be huge force.”

Entering Monday night, UNC was shooting 32.5% from deep on the season — good for 245th in the nation. The Tar Heels’ 48% performance from beyond the arc against ECU marked a season-best percentage.

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