No. 16 UNC defeats Syracuse 77-64

Tar Heels bounce back after previous loss with strong performance on the road

Feb. 21, 2026 at 10:06pm

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The 16th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Syracuse Orange 77-64 on Saturday. Henri Veesaar led the way for UNC, scoring 19 points after returning to the starting lineup.

Why it matters

This win helps North Carolina bounce back after a previous loss, keeping them in the hunt for a high seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Syracuse, meanwhile, continues to struggle in conference play this season.

The details

Henri Veesaar, who had been coming off the bench, returned to the starting lineup and scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Tar Heels to victory. North Carolina shot 48% from the field and outrebounded Syracuse 36-28 in the game.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Henri Veesaar

A starting forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels who scored 19 points in the win.

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The takeaway

North Carolina showed resilience in bouncing back from a previous loss with a strong road win over Syracuse. The Tar Heels' ability to make adjustments, like reinserting Veesaar into the starting lineup, will be key as they look to secure a high seed in the NCAA tournament.