UNC Stays Unbeaten, Begins Fort Myers Trip With Win Vs. St. Bonaventure

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Once again, improved play in the second half propelled the Tar Heels after a bumpy start in the first. North Carolina kept its perfect record intact on Tuesday with an 85-70 victory against St. Bonaventure in front of a UNC-heavy crowd at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. UNC is 6-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

North Carolina opened with a commanding start, going ahead by double-digits less than four minutes into the first half, before St. Bonaventure stormed back to tie the game. Turnovers clipped UNC during the Bonnies’ run, as 11-first half turnovers led to 10 points for St. Bonaventure. 

UNC picked things up in the second half, out-scoring the Bonnies 23-10 in the first seven minutes of the half to go ahead by 15 points. North Carolina did a better job of protecting the basketball as well, limiting those extra opportunities for St. Bonaventure and converting on offense as a result.

Henri Veesaar turned in a highly productive day for UNC, setting career-highs with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Caleb Wilson added 18 points and 12 rebounds of his own.

North Carolina will face Michigan State on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. to wrap up its two-game visit in Fort Myers. The Spartans handled East Carolina earlier on Tuesday, winning 89-56.

This will be the third straight season that the Tar Heels and Spartans are meeting up. The two teams played in the Round of 32 in Charlotte in March 2024, a game UNC won to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. North Carolina faced Michigan State again last season in Maui, losing 94-91 in overtime.