FEBRUARY 15, 2025
UNC 88, SYRACUSE 82
JMA WIRELESS DOME
SYRACUSE, N.Y.
UNC Scoring Leader: Ian Jackson 23
UNC Rebound Leader: Seth Trimble 8
UNC Assist Leader: RJ Davis 6
Team Records: UNC 15-11, 8-6 ACC; Syracuse 11-15, 5-10 ACC
• The Tar Heels snapped a four-game road losing streak and improved to 4-6 on the road this season.
• Carolina scored 88 points, the most since beating Boston College, 102-96, in overtime on January 25 (the teams scored 89 points apiece in regulation).
• It was the third time this season UNC never trailed (at Hawai’i and home vs. SMU).
• UNC made 13 three-pointers, tying its season high. The Tar Heels also made 13 vs. Elon in the season opener.
• UNC is 5-1 this season when it makes 10 or more three-pointers (only loss was in overtime to Michigan State, when Carolina made 11 threes).
• Carolina shot 46.4% from three, making 13 of 28. UNC is 13-4 this season when it shoots 30% or better from three and 4-1 when it makes better than 40% (only loss was to Michigan State, when UNC shot 47.8% from three).
• Carolina shot 49.2% from the floor, its highest percentage since shooting 55.6% in the win over Boston College.
• The Tar Heels are 12-4 this season when shooting 45% or better from the floor.
• One game after getting out-scored by 24 points from three-point range at Clemson (which equaled the largest margin by an opponent this season), the Tar Heels out-scored the Orange by 27 from three (UNC made 13, SU made four).
• The 27-point margin in favor of the Tar Heels from three was their largest of the season. UNC made seven more threes in the loss against Michigan State (11-4) and in the victory over SMU (11-4).
• Carolina shot 53.8% from the floor in the second half. It was the first time UNC shot 50% in the second half in a win since beating SMU on Jan. 7 (UNC shot 64.3% in the second half at Duke on February 1).
• Carolina won despite the Orange making 20 of 22 free throws. This was the first time the Tar Heels won this season when the opponents made 20 or more free throws (losses to Michigan State, Louisville, Wake Forest and Duke).
• It was the first time this season the Tar Heels won when an opponent scored more points in the paint. The Orange outscored UNC, 44-34, in paint points. Carolina is 1-4 this season when getting outscored in the paint.
• The Tar Heels scored 34 points off the bench, their most bench points since they scored a season-best 49 vs. La Salle. The 34 bench points were the second most in an ACC game this season (39 vs. Georgia Tech on December 7). UNC is 8-4 when it scores more bench points.
• For the second time this season three Tar Heels made three or more three-point field goals. Ian Jackson tied his season high with five 3FGs and RJ Davis and Jae’Lyn Withers both made three. The win over SMU was the other time this season three Tar Heels made three or more 3FGs (Drake Powell made four and Davis and Jackson both made three).
• Jackson led UNC with 23 points. He leads the team with eight 20-point games.
• It was the first time in eight games a player other than Davis led UNC in scoring.
• It was Jackson’s first 20-point game since he scored 20 vs. Cal on January 15. It was his highest scoring output since he had 27 at Notre Dame on January 4.
• Jackson had averaged 7.4 points in his previous seven games. He scored 16 points in the first half, the most points he scored in a half since he had 16 in the first half at NC State.
• Jackson tied his personal best with five three-pointers (made five at NC State).
• Jackson’s five threes tied the most by a Tar Heel this season (twice by Jackson and by Davis vs. Campbell and Cade Tyson vs. La Salle).
• Jackson was 8 for 15 from the floor. He had made six field goals in the previous four games, and the 15 attempts were the most since he took 15 in back-to-back games vs. NC State and Cal.
• Withers scored 19 points, the most he has scored in two seasons as a Tar Heel. It was his top scoring game since he had 19 playing for Louisville vs. Georgia Tech in 2022-23. His previous scoring high as a Tar Heel was 16 vs. Wagner in the 2024 NCAA Tournament first round.
• The 19 points were one off Withers’ career high, which he did once as a freshman at Louisville in 2020-21 and once as a sophomore in 2021-22.
• It was the fourth time this season and first time since Auburn he scored in double figures (10 vs. Elon, 11 at Kansas, 10 vs. Auburn and 19 at Syracuse). He has scored in double figures eight times in two seasons as a Tar Heel and 38 times in five seasons overall.
• Withers scored 14 second-half points. His previous scoring high this season for an entire game was 11 at Kansas.
• Withers was 3 for 4 from three-point range. The three 3FGs tied his season high (at Kansas),which are also the most he has made as a Tar Heel.
• Withers also had a season high and tied his career high with three blocked shots.
• Withers was 7 for 10 from the floor. The seven field goals were the most he has made as a Tar Heel and most since he made seven at Miami while playing for Louisville in 2022-23. The 10 attempts tied the most he has taken as a Tar Heel (also 10 FGA vs. Elon). He converted back-to-back three-point plays inside of 8:00 remaining that gave UNC a nine-point lead.
• Davis scored 16 points and led UNC with six assists. Carolina is 35-10 in five seasons when he has five or more assists. This was the eighth game in a row he made multiple threes and the fifth time in eight games he made three 3FGs.
• Carolina is 18-7 vs. Syracuse, 14-4 since the Orange joined the ACC.
• The Tar Heels are 13-4 all-time in the JMA Wireless Dome, including 6-3 against Syracuse in the Dome.
Next Game: vs. NC State, Wednesday, February 19 (7 p.m., ESPN)
UNC 88, SYRACUSE 82
JMA WIRELESS DOME
SYRACUSE, N.Y.
UNC Scoring Leader: Ian Jackson 23
UNC Rebound Leader: Seth Trimble 8
UNC Assist Leader: RJ Davis 6
Team Records: UNC 15-11, 8-6 ACC; Syracuse 11-15, 5-10 ACC
• The Tar Heels snapped a four-game road losing streak and improved to 4-6 on the road this season.
• Carolina scored 88 points, the most since beating Boston College, 102-96, in overtime on January 25 (the teams scored 89 points apiece in regulation).
• It was the third time this season UNC never trailed (at Hawai’i and home vs. SMU).
• UNC made 13 three-pointers, tying its season high. The Tar Heels also made 13 vs. Elon in the season opener.
• UNC is 5-1 this season when it makes 10 or more three-pointers (only loss was in overtime to Michigan State, when Carolina made 11 threes).
• Carolina shot 46.4% from three, making 13 of 28. UNC is 13-4 this season when it shoots 30% or better from three and 4-1 when it makes better than 40% (only loss was to Michigan State, when UNC shot 47.8% from three).
• Carolina shot 49.2% from the floor, its highest percentage since shooting 55.6% in the win over Boston College.
• The Tar Heels are 12-4 this season when shooting 45% or better from the floor.
• One game after getting out-scored by 24 points from three-point range at Clemson (which equaled the largest margin by an opponent this season), the Tar Heels out-scored the Orange by 27 from three (UNC made 13, SU made four).
• The 27-point margin in favor of the Tar Heels from three was their largest of the season. UNC made seven more threes in the loss against Michigan State (11-4) and in the victory over SMU (11-4).
• Carolina shot 53.8% from the floor in the second half. It was the first time UNC shot 50% in the second half in a win since beating SMU on Jan. 7 (UNC shot 64.3% in the second half at Duke on February 1).
• Carolina won despite the Orange making 20 of 22 free throws. This was the first time the Tar Heels won this season when the opponents made 20 or more free throws (losses to Michigan State, Louisville, Wake Forest and Duke).
• It was the first time this season the Tar Heels won when an opponent scored more points in the paint. The Orange outscored UNC, 44-34, in paint points. Carolina is 1-4 this season when getting outscored in the paint.
• The Tar Heels scored 34 points off the bench, their most bench points since they scored a season-best 49 vs. La Salle. The 34 bench points were the second most in an ACC game this season (39 vs. Georgia Tech on December 7). UNC is 8-4 when it scores more bench points.
• For the second time this season three Tar Heels made three or more three-point field goals. Ian Jackson tied his season high with five 3FGs and RJ Davis and Jae’Lyn Withers both made three. The win over SMU was the other time this season three Tar Heels made three or more 3FGs (Drake Powell made four and Davis and Jackson both made three).
• Jackson led UNC with 23 points. He leads the team with eight 20-point games.
• It was the first time in eight games a player other than Davis led UNC in scoring.
• It was Jackson’s first 20-point game since he scored 20 vs. Cal on January 15. It was his highest scoring output since he had 27 at Notre Dame on January 4.
• Jackson had averaged 7.4 points in his previous seven games. He scored 16 points in the first half, the most points he scored in a half since he had 16 in the first half at NC State.
• Jackson tied his personal best with five three-pointers (made five at NC State).
• Jackson’s five threes tied the most by a Tar Heel this season (twice by Jackson and by Davis vs. Campbell and Cade Tyson vs. La Salle).
• Jackson was 8 for 15 from the floor. He had made six field goals in the previous four games, and the 15 attempts were the most since he took 15 in back-to-back games vs. NC State and Cal.
• Withers scored 19 points, the most he has scored in two seasons as a Tar Heel. It was his top scoring game since he had 19 playing for Louisville vs. Georgia Tech in 2022-23. His previous scoring high as a Tar Heel was 16 vs. Wagner in the 2024 NCAA Tournament first round.
• The 19 points were one off Withers’ career high, which he did once as a freshman at Louisville in 2020-21 and once as a sophomore in 2021-22.
• It was the fourth time this season and first time since Auburn he scored in double figures (10 vs. Elon, 11 at Kansas, 10 vs. Auburn and 19 at Syracuse). He has scored in double figures eight times in two seasons as a Tar Heel and 38 times in five seasons overall.
• Withers scored 14 second-half points. His previous scoring high this season for an entire game was 11 at Kansas.
• Withers was 3 for 4 from three-point range. The three 3FGs tied his season high (at Kansas),which are also the most he has made as a Tar Heel.
• Withers also had a season high and tied his career high with three blocked shots.
• Withers was 7 for 10 from the floor. The seven field goals were the most he has made as a Tar Heel and most since he made seven at Miami while playing for Louisville in 2022-23. The 10 attempts tied the most he has taken as a Tar Heel (also 10 FGA vs. Elon). He converted back-to-back three-point plays inside of 8:00 remaining that gave UNC a nine-point lead.
• Davis scored 16 points and led UNC with six assists. Carolina is 35-10 in five seasons when he has five or more assists. This was the eighth game in a row he made multiple threes and the fifth time in eight games he made three 3FGs.
• Carolina is 18-7 vs. Syracuse, 14-4 since the Orange joined the ACC.
• The Tar Heels are 13-4 all-time in the JMA Wireless Dome, including 6-3 against Syracuse in the Dome.
Next Game: vs. NC State, Wednesday, February 19 (7 p.m., ESPN)
