CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In an emphatic evening at the Dean E. Smith Center, the No. 25 North Carolina Tar Heels smashed No. 18 Kansas Jayhawks 87-74 on Friday night, snapping a five-game losing streak to the Jayhawks and tying the series at 7-7. (Tar Heel Blog)
Game Recap & Key Numbers
Kansas held a 37-29 lead at the half, looking in control and extending their dominance in the series. But the Tar Heels roared back in the second half, out-scoring Kansas 58-37 and shooting a blistering 66.7% (24-of-36) after the break. (University of North Carolina Athletics)
Some additional standout stats:
- Carolina shot 51.5% overall for the game, having shot just 33.3% (10-of-30) in the first half. (University of North Carolina Athletics)
- UNC grabbed 39 rebounds to Kansas’s 27, including a dominant 16-7 edge on the offensive glass. (University of North Carolina Athletics)
- The Tar Heels committed only one turnover in the second half after coughing it up 10 times in the first. (University of North Carolina Athletics)
- North Carolina piled up 48 points in the paint compared with just 20 for Kansas. (University of North Carolina Athletics)
Stand-Out Performances
- Caleb Wilson (UNC freshman): Led the way with 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting, added 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. He became the first North Carolina freshman ever to record 20+ points in his first two games. (University of North Carolina Athletics)
- Henri Veesaar: Collected 20 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, including 12 in the first half as UNC stayed within striking distance. (University of North Carolina Athletics)
- Seth Trimble: Posted 17 points and 8 rebounds, with 13 of his points coming after the break; he also took on the assignment of guarding Kansas’ freshman phenom. (University of North Carolina Athletics)
- For Kansas, freshman guard Darryn Peterson tallied 22 points, but foul trouble and UNC’s second-half surge proved too much to overcome. (University of North Carolina Athletics)
What Coach Hubert Davis Had to Say
After the victory, Head Coach Hubert Davis emphasized the turnaround in the second half:
“In the second half it was the exact opposite… We always changed sides of the floor. We had great ball and player movement … and we found lanes to be able to attack the basket.” (University of North Carolina Athletics)
Reflecting on breaking the Kansas streak and what this means for the program:
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, I want them to be amped up. Tonight, they answered the bell.” (Chat Sports)
Why This Win Matters
- Breaking the streak: Kansas had won five straight meetings in the series, including the 2022 national championship game victory over UNC. This win ends that run and revitalizes the Tar Heels against a top-tier opponent. (SI)
- Momentum builder: With the Tar Heels improving to 2-0, this statement win on home court sends a strong message about their ambition for the 2025-26 season.
- Depth & execution: The dominant second half showcased Carolina’s depth, interior strength and ability to flip the script when adjustments mattered.
- Template for success: The Tar Heels displayed textbook attributes under Davis—ball movement, rebounding, protection of the glass and capitalizing on opponent mistakes.
Highlights
Watch the second-half stretch beginning with UNC’s 29-9 run, which turned a deficit into a decisive lead and ultimately sealed the Jayhawks’ fate.
Looking Ahead
UNC now turns its focus to the rest of the non-conference slate, with renewed confidence after dismantling one of college basketball’s premier programs. Kansas, sitting at 1-1, will regroup and try to rebound from the setback. For the Tar Heels, the blueprint used Friday night—effort, toughness, unselfishness—must become a standard if they’re to contend at the highest level.
Final word: In a matchup of blue-bloods, North Carolina made the bigger statement. The Tar Heels didn’t just win—they dominated when it mattered, and in doing so, reclaimed a measure of pride and promise for their season ahead.
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