North Carolina 91–69 Notre Dame: Big Run and Big Men Power No. 22 Tar Heels in Chapel Hill
Notre Dame vs UNC turned into a statement night for North Carolina, as the No. 22 Tar Heels rolled past the Fighting Irish 91–69 at the Dean E. Smith Center behind dominant frontcourt performances from Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar.
Wilson scored 22 points, while Veesaar added a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double, combining for 39 points and 19 boards to anchor a Tar Heels performance that snapped a brief slump and reminded the ACC of UNC’s ceiling when firing on all cylinders.
North Carolina improved to 15–4 overall and 3–3 in ACC play, while Notre Dame fell to 10–9 (1–5 ACC).
First Half: Tar Heels Bomb Away Early
North Carolina wasted little time establishing its offensive identity in Notre Dame vs UNC.
The Tar Heels opened the game with an aggressive perimeter approach:
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10 of their first 11 shots were three-pointers
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5 made threes fueled an early 18–10 lead
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15 of UNC’s first 20 attempts came from beyond the arc
Despite the volume from outside, it was Caleb Wilson who steadied the offense whenever UNC went inside. The freshman had 14 points and five rebounds by halftime, punishing switches and controlling the paint.
Notre Dame stayed competitive with early shot-making, but never fully solved UNC’s blend of spacing and interior pressure. At the break, the Tar Heels led 42–33.
Second Half: 44–20 Run Blows Game Open
The game flipped decisively coming out of halftime.
North Carolina opened the second half with an 8–0 run, stretching the lead to 50–33 and forcing a Notre Dame timeout. That burst ballooned into a devastating 44–20 run, with the Tar Heels leading by as many as 29 points midway through the half.
During that stretch:
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UNC shot 52.9% in the second half
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Finished 50.8% overall from the field
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Held Notre Dame to 36% shooting
The numbers reinforced a familiar trend under Hubert Davis:
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UNC is 9–1 this season (44–2 overall) when shooting at least 50%
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11–0 this year (56–4 overall) when holding opponents under 40%
By the time Notre Dame found its footing again, the outcome of Notre Dame vs UNC was already sealed.
Box Score Highlights
North Carolina (91)
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Caleb Wilson: 22 points, continuing his streak of 19 straight double-figure games to begin his UNC career — the second-longest by a Tar Heel freshman
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Henri Veesaar: 15 points, 12 rebounds, controlled the glass
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Sir Mohammed: 14 points, key perimeter balance
Six different Tar Heels knocked down a three in the first half, underscoring UNC’s depth and spacing.
Notre Dame (69)
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Sir Mohammed: 14 points
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Jalen Haralson: 13 points
After starting hot from deep, the Irish went just 2-of-13 from three in the second half, finishing 8-for-25 (32%) overall.
Scoring by Half
| Team | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 33 | 36 | 69 |
| North Carolina | 42 | 49 | 91 |
Takeaways From Notre Dame vs UNC
Frontcourt dominance:
Wilson and Veesaar set the tone, proving UNC is at its best when the offense flows through its big men.
Shooting identity:
High three-point volume early and elite efficiency overall reflect the modern, spacing-heavy system under Hubert Davis.
Irish struggles:
Notre Dame’s offense stalled once perimeter shots stopped falling, exposing issues against elite athleticism and size.
Final Word
Notre Dame vs UNC was competitive early, but only briefly.
With Caleb Wilson’s continued rise and Henri Veesaar’s interior control, the Tar Heels unleashed a second-half avalanche to cruise to a 91–69 ACC win, a performance that felt less like a bounce-back — and more like a reminder.