When Henri Veesaar drained a three-pointer with 12:14 left in the second half, the University of North Carolina bench erupted—not because it was his first, but because it was his only and it came at the perfect moment. The 7-foot Estonian center had already dominated the paint, but that shot? It wasn’t just a bucket. It was the exclamation point on a 50-37 second-half run that turned a nail-biter into a statement win. On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida, the No. 16 Tar Heels defeated the St. Bonaventure Bonnies 85-70 in the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off opener. And for the first time since 2016-2017, UNC is 6-0 to start the season.
From Tied to Dominant: The Second-Half Surge
The first half felt like a chess match. St. Bonaventure, 5-1 coming in, matched UNC’s physicality. The teams were deadlocked at 28-28 with 6:27 left in the half. At halftime, the Tar Heels led by just two—35-33. Turnovers haunted them: 11 in the first 20 minutes. Coach Hubert Davis, in his third year at the helm, didn’t yell. He adjusted. "We had to protect the ball and trust our size," he told the ACC Digital Network postgame. The result? Two turnovers in the second half. Two. And a 53.3% shooting clip that turned the game into a clinic.Veesaar’s Breakout: More Than Just Numbers
Henri Veesaar finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 35 minutes. His 9-of-14 shooting? Efficient. His lone three-pointer? Iconic. It came after St. Bonaventure cut the lead to 63-50. The Bonnies were starting to believe. Then Veesaar caught the ball at the top of the key, stepped back, and fired. Swish. The arena gasped. The lead jumped to 16. Suddenly, the Bonnies weren’t just trailing—they were out of answers. "He’s not just a big man who finishes at the rim," said Caleb Wilson, UNC’s 6-foot-10 forward. "He’s learning to stretch the floor. That three? That’s the future." Wilson, a Charlotte native, added his fourth straight double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. But Veesaar’s impact went beyond stats. He altered six shots. He forced St. Bonaventure to abandon its inside game. "He made life miserable," noted StarNewsOnline. And it showed: the Bonnies managed just 36 points in the paint—UNC’s defense, led by Veesaar’s presence, held them to 37% shooting inside the arc.The Supporting Cast: Precision in the Second Half
This wasn’t just Veesaar’s night. Guard Kyan Evans (11 points, 3-of-4 from deep) and Luka Bogavac (10 points, 4 assists) provided the rhythm UNC lacked early. The Tar Heels shot 44% from three (8-of-18), a marked improvement from their first-half struggles. But the real story? Ball movement. After committing 11 turnovers before halftime, they had just two after. That’s not luck. That’s discipline.
Why This Matters: A New Identity for UNC
For years, UNC’s identity swung between perimeter shooting and post dominance. This game? It was both. They scored 36 points in the paint. They hit eight threes. They outrebounded St. Bonaventure 42-30. And they did it without their star guard, who’s still recovering from a minor ankle sprain. That’s depth. That’s balance. That’s what Coach Davis has been building since taking over in 2022. The win also marked UNC’s first against a non-ACC opponent since the 2023 NCAA Tournament. And it wasn’t just about the record. It was about perception. St. Bonaventure came in ranked in the top 100 in defensive efficiency by KenPom. UNC didn’t just beat them—they dismantled their scheme. "They didn’t have an answer for Veesaar," said ESPN analyst Mike Greenberg in his postgame breakdown. "And when a 7-footer starts hitting threes? That’s a problem for every team in the country."What’s Next: A Top-15 Test Against Michigan State
The Tar Heels’ next challenge arrives Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the same arena: a showdown with the No. 11 Michigan State Spartans. It’s UNC’s first game against a top-15 team this season. Michigan State, 5-1 and known for physical, half-court basketball, will test UNC’s interior defense like no one else has. Can Veesaar handle their twin towers? Can Evans keep firing? Can the Tar Heels keep their second-half turnover streak alive? "This isn’t about the Tip-Off," Davis said after the game. "This is about becoming a team that can win anywhere, against anyone. We’re not done yet."
Historical Context: The 6-0 Start That Broke a Long Silence
UNC’s 6-0 start is its best since the 2016-2017 season—the year before the program’s NCAA Tournament ban. Back then, Justin Jackson and Joel Berry led a balanced attack. This year? It’s Veesaar, Wilson, and a new breed of Tar Heels: bigger, smarter, more versatile. The 2017 team made the Final Four. This team? They’re still finding their rhythm. But after Tuesday, you can’t ignore the signs.St. Bonaventure, meanwhile, falls to 5-1. Their coach, Mark Schmidt, praised Veesaar’s development but lamented his team’s inability to adjust. "We knew he was strong," Schmidt said. "We didn’t know he could shoot like that. That changes everything."
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Henri Veesaar’s three-pointer impact the game’s momentum?
Veesaar’s lone three-pointer came with 12:14 left in the second half, extending UNC’s lead from 63-50 to 66-50. That shot broke St. Bonaventure’s momentum after they’d cut the deficit to 13 points. It forced them to abandon their inside game and chase threes, which UNC’s defense exploited. The basket was the turning point in a 22-7 run that sealed the game.
Why is UNC’s 6-0 start significant this season?
It’s the Tar Heels’ best start since the 2016-2017 season, when they reached the Final Four. Since then, UNC has struggled with consistency, coaching transitions, and recruiting depth. A 6-0 start signals stability under Coach Hubert Davis and suggests this team has the size, discipline, and versatility to compete for a deep NCAA Tournament run—especially with their next game against No. 11 Michigan State.
What made UNC’s second-half defense so effective?
UNC cut their turnovers from 11 in the first half to just 2 in the second, allowing them to control the tempo. Veesaar’s rim protection and active hands disrupted St. Bonaventure’s post entries, while Evans and Bogavac locked down perimeter shooters. The Tar Heels held the Bonnies to 37% shooting in the second half and forced eight misses in the paint—key to their 50-37 scoring advantage.
How does Henri Veesaar’s performance compare to past UNC centers?
Veesaar’s 24-point, 13-rebound, 1-three-pointer game is rare for a UNC center. The last to match it was Brice Johnson in 2016, who had 25 points and 14 rebounds against Kansas. But unlike Johnson, Veesaar is developing a three-point shot—something few Tar Heel big men have done effectively. His ability to stretch the floor could make him the most versatile center UNC has had since Tyler Hansbrough’s era.
What’s at stake in UNC’s next game against Michigan State?
A win over No. 11 Michigan State would be UNC’s first against a top-15 team this season and likely vault them into the top 10 of the AP Poll. Michigan State’s physical frontcourt—led by 6’10” forward Jayden Taylor—will test Veesaar’s defensive range and Wilson’s ability to handle double teams. If UNC wins, it signals they’re not just a good team—they’re a national contender.
Is Henri Veesaar becoming a breakout NBA prospect?
Yes. Veesaar’s combination of size (7-foot, 230 lbs), footwork, and now shooting range makes him a rare NBA prospect. Scouts from the Celtics, Timberwolves, and Grizzlies were spotted at the game. His 82% free-throw shooting and ability to guard multiple positions are drawing comparisons to Kristaps Porziņģis. If he keeps improving, he could be a late-first-round pick in 2026.