Syracuse Upsets No. 16 North Carolina in Nail-Biter

Orange take down Tar Heels in second matchup of the season

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Syracuse Orange men's basketball team pulled off an upset victory over the No. 16 North Carolina Tar Heels, winning 79-73 in a close game at the JMA Wireless Dome. This comes after a blowout loss to Duke in their previous outing.

Why it matters

This win over a ranked opponent could be a significant boost for Syracuse's NCAA Tournament hopes, as they look to improve their NET ranking and quadrant 1 resume. However, the victory also raises questions about the team's inconsistency, as they were blown out by Duke just prior to this upset.

The details

Without the services of injured forward Caleb Wilson, the Tar Heels struggled to contain Syracuse's Donnie Freeman and JJ Starling, who led the way with 20 and 18 points respectively. The Orange were able to focus on UNC's perimeter players and find more room to operate in the paint on offense.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 20th, 2026 with a 1 p.m. EST tip-off.
  • This was the second meeting of the season between Syracuse and North Carolina, with the Tar Heels winning the first matchup.

The players

Donnie Freeman

A key contributor for the Syracuse Orange, scoring 20 points to lead his team to victory.

JJ Starling

The Syracuse guard had 18 points in the upset win over North Carolina.

Caleb Wilson

The injured North Carolina forward was out for this game, which proved to be a significant factor in the Tar Heels' loss.

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What they’re saying

“This just feels like the inexplicable win that gets the fanbase further divided. On one hand, people will celebrate a good win, others will fret that this confuses the coaching decision and most will be disappointed that this team couldn't put forth a more consistent effort.”

— Kevin (Yahoo Sports)

“Considering how close the game ended up getting last time around after trailing almost 30, it would be so Syracuse this year to beat them after falling to the Blue Devils the game prior.”

— Dominic Chiappone, Author (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

Syracuse will look to build on this upset victory as they continue their conference schedule, while North Carolina will need to regroup and find a way to win without the injured Caleb Wilson.

The takeaway

This game showcases the unpredictable nature of the Syracuse men's basketball team this season, as they are capable of both blowout losses and signature wins over ranked opponents. The team's inconsistency will be a key factor as they try to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.