North Carolina Triumphs 85-70 Over St. Bonaventure: Game Recap

The North Carolina Tar Heels secured an impressive 85-70 victory against St. Bonaventure during the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The game took place on a Tuesday night in Florida, marking a significant achievement for No. 16 North Carolina, now boasting a 6-0 record, their best start since the 2016-17 season.

Key Player Performances

Henri Veesaar was a standout with 24 points and 13 rebounds. His dominance in the paint was crucial, especially in the second half. Caleb Wilson also contributed significantly with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

• Henri Veesaar: 24 points, 13 rebounds
• Caleb Wilson: 20 points, 12 rebounds
• Kyan Evans: 11 points
• Luka Bogavac: 10 points

For St. Bonaventure, Buddy Simmons II led the scoring with 22 points, while Frank Mitchell added 18 points. The Bonnies fell to 5-1 after this match.

Game Highlights

The Tar Heels opened strong, establishing a 15-5 lead with a mix of three-pointers and successful plays. St. Bonaventure responded well, launching a 16-4 run to take a temporary 30-28 lead, highlighted by a dunk from Andrew Osasuyi.

Despite this effort, North Carolina held a slim 35-33 advantage at halftime. The second half saw Veesaar take control, helping the Tar Heels build and maintain a comfortable lead.

Historical Context

This game was a rematch of a historical encounter, the first since March 15, 1968. In that previous matchup, North Carolina, ranked No. 4, triumphed over No. 3 St. Bonaventure with a score of 91-72 during the NCAA East Region semifinal.

Next Matchups

Looking ahead, North Carolina is set to face Michigan State on Thursday in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Meanwhile, St. Bonaventure will take on East Carolina on the same day.