Cold shooting, subpar second half doom UNC in Thanksgiving loss to MSU

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Cold shooting, subpar second half doom UNC in Thanksgiving loss to MSU

Aidan Jensen, Tar Heels Wire · Tar Heels Wire

Thu, Nov 27, 2025 ·

6 min read

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The North Carolina Tar Heels were in for quite the test Thursday afternoon, playing Michigan State to close out the Fort Myers Invitational.

UNC and the Spartans traded runs early, with the latter taking a 5-point lead into halftime. North Carolina quickly crawled back early in the second half, but disappeared quickly after.

The Tar Heels made just 38 percent of their shots, including an ice-cold 4-of-23 mark from the perimeter, which proved to be the defining factors in a 74-58 loss.

Michigan State (7-0) made five of its ten attempts from deep, including a pair of late threes from point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. The Spartans outscored UNC (6-1), 41-30, in the second half.

North Carolina and Michigan State traded blows early. First, UNC embarked on an 8-0 run, followed by a 13-0 spurt from the Spartans. MSU never trailed again after big man Carson Cooper , who finished his night with 14 points and six rebounds, drained a tie-breaking free throw late in the first half.

Caleb Wilson was a major factor for the Tar Heels in first-half action, but the Spartans game-planned effectively to neutralize Wilson in the second half. Wilson enjoy a trio of highlight-reel dunks in the first half, but finished with just 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting – decent numbers by any means, but nowhere near his recent production levels.

Henri Veesaar brought North Carolina back into the second half, scoring his team's first nine points. The Spartans, however, just couldn't miss and never let UNC back into the game.

Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 19 points to lead Michigan State, while Wilson led the Tar Heels with 18. North Carolina heads back to Chapel Hill with plenty to fix, before heading back on the road Tuesday for a trip to Kentucky , for a 9:30 p.m. tip-off in the ACC-SEC Challenge .

Final: Michigan State 74, UNC 58

The Spartans pulled away in the second, downing the Tar Heels 74-58. North Carolina lost its first game of the season, shooting a paltry 4-of-23 from deep.

UNC needs a miracle to come back

The Tar Heels trail the Spartans, 68-56, with 2:47 left in the second half. UNC shooting poorly from deep and failing to find a rhythm.

Another Michigan State run gives them a double-digit lead

UNC is playing its worst basketball of the night, trailing 64-52 with 5:17 left in the game. Michigan State's 9-0 run forced a North Carolina timeout.

Michigan State up three at under-8 media timeout

The Spartans lead the Tar Heels, 55-52, with 7:49 left in regulation. Both teams are scoreless in the last 1:12.

UNC pulls closer just as MSU appears to be pulling away

The second half was all Michigan State...until it wasn't. The Tar Heels utilized an 8-2 run to get right back in the game, closing their deficit to 55-52 on a Kyan Evans reverse layup.

Michigan State still up five early in second half

The Spartans lead the Tar Heels, 40-35, just 4:07 into the second half. MSU still looks the better team, but North Carolina responded big-time out of the break.

Henri Veesaar 's early charge leading UNC in second half

The Tar Heels desperately needed an offensive spark out of halftime. Why not 7-foot center Henri Veesaar, who has all seven of UNC's second-half points?

Veesaar notched his first two points of the half on a dunk, drained a 3-pointer, then converted on a layup.

Tar Heels struggling without frontcourt starters

UNC isn't playing great offensively without Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, who sat out the last couple minutes of first-half action.

North Carolina relied on Zayden High at center. He made a basket, but missed a layup off an offensive rebound.

Kyan Evans tried a 3-pointer, but it didn't fall. The Tar Heels lack needed momentum heading into halftime, but Hubert Davis will make needed adjustments.

UNC trails by five at halftime

The Tar Heels are trailing Michigan State, 33-28, at halftime of today's Thanksgiving Day game.

Luka Bogavac , Jarin Stevenson and Zayden High snapped North Carolina out of its scoring drought, but a couple empty offensive possessions loomed large.

Spartans force a UNC timeout with 13-0 run.

The Tar Heels hit a brick wall. They can't score, keep the basketball and are struggling to defend.

Michigan State's Cam Ward hits the layup with 3:18 left in the first half, forcing a UNC timeout.

The Spartans lead the Tar Heels, 28-22. North Carolina hasn't scored in over five minutes.

Michigan State comes roaring back to take the late first-half lead

Spartans lead the Tar Heels, 23-22, with just under five minutes left in the fist half.

Tar Heels defense making an early impact

UNC is currently holding Michigan State in a nearly 4-minute scoreless stretch. The Spartans last scored with 11:30 left on the first-half clock.

North Carolina is doing a great job at defending without fouling and forcing tough shots.

Jarin Stevenson gives UNC largest lead of day, forces MSU timeout

Jarin Stevenson, who already nailed a 3-pointer earlier in the first half, extended UNC's lead to seven points by driving to the hoop for an easy layup.

Tar Heels lead, 22-15, with 7:41 left in the first half (under-8 media timeout).

Caleb Wilson going to the line for free throws out of the break

UNC trails Michigan State, 13-12, at the second media timeout. Freshman star Caleb Wilson heads to the line for a pair of free throws, hoping to give North Carolina another early lead.

Tight game early...Michigan State leads UNC at first media timeout

The Spartans lead the Tar Heels, 9-8, at today's first media timeout just 4:22 in. Caleb Wilson and Coen Carr are treating fans to a series of highlight-reel dunks.

THE Caleb Wilson dunk for your viewing pleasure

Caleb Wilson scores the Tar Heels' first six points!

Michigan State took a quick 5-0 lead, but Caleb Wilson responded for UNC with a pair of thunderous dunks. After MSU scored two more points on a goaltending, Wilson nailed a pair of free throws.

UNC a Thanksgiving basketball regular

The Tar Heels are no strangers to playing on Thanksgiving Day. They played at Portland in 2022, then 2023 vs. Villanova in the Bahamas.

How'd UNC and Michigan State fare in Tuesday action?

UNC beat St. Bonaventure, 85-70, behind another strong second half and Henri Veesaar's career day. MSU dominated East Carolina, 89-56, behind 16 points and eight rebounds from Jaxon Kohler .