Tar Heels Dominate Pirates in Lopsided Victory
Monday, December 22, 2025, 8:00 PM ET · Dean E. Smith Center
North Carolina Tar Heels 99, East Carolina Pirates 51, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won East Carolina Pirates vs North Carolina Tar Heels?
North Carolina Tar Heels beat East Carolina Pirates 99-51 at Dean E. Smith Center on December 22, 2025.
Who was favored in East Carolina Pirates vs North Carolina Tar Heels?
North Carolina Tar Heels were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -5000 (about 98% implied). The favorite won.
In a commanding display, the North Carolina Tar Heels overwhelmed the East Carolina Pirates with a final score of 99-51 at the Dean E. Smith Center. This matchup showcased the stark contrast in the teams' recent performances, with North Carolina entering the game on a five-game winning streak, while East Carolina had been struggling, winning only four of their last ten games. The Tar Heels, boasting a home record of 12-1, continued their strong form, averaging 77.8 points per game while allowing only 64.7. In contrast, the Pirates, with a record of 5-8, averaged 65.7 points but allowed 71.6, revealing their defensive vulnerabilities.
The Tar Heels' recent form was impressive, with their last ten games yielding a record of 9-1. Their scoring prowess was on full display, particularly in their last five games where they averaged 75.2 points while allowing just 63.0. Their home record stood at 7-1, further emphasizing their dominance at the Dean E. Smith Center. The Pirates, meanwhile, had a home record of 4-5 and were yet to secure a win in their only away game of the season, highlighting their struggles on the road.
In terms of previous meetings, the Tar Heels and Pirates faced off earlier in the season, with North Carolina emerging victorious. The Tar Heels' consistent performance against East Carolina added to the anticipation of this fixture, as they were heavily favored going into the game, with DraftKings setting the odds at UNC -25.5.
Injuries did not seem to play a significant role in this matchup, as both teams appeared to field their strongest lineups. The conditions at the Dean E. Smith Center were favorable for basketball, with a vibrant crowd supporting the home team.
As the game unfolded, North Carolina quickly established control, with a series of scoring plays that highlighted their offensive capabilities. The Tar Heels' scoring was led by a mix of three-pointers and inside shots, showcasing their versatility. Key moments included Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young both hitting long-range three-pointers, while Evan Smith contributed with a tip-in layup. The Tar Heels maintained a significant lead throughout the game, exemplified by their scoring surge in the second half, where they continued to dominate.
The Pirates struggled to keep pace, managing only 51 points throughout the game. Their inability to defend against North Carolina's offensive onslaught was evident, as they allowed the Tar Heels to score freely. The final score of 99-51 not only underscored North Carolina's strength but also highlighted the challenges faced by East Carolina in this contest.
Overall, this game served as a reminder of the disparity between the two programs at this point in the season. The Tar Heels' ability to score efficiently and defend effectively was crucial in their victory, while the Pirates will need to reassess their strategy moving forward to improve their performance in future games.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UNC -25.5 | 144.5 o -108 / u -112 | East Carolina Pirates +1800 · North Carolina Tar Heels -5000 |
Leaders
- PointsCaleb Wilson21North Carolina Tar Heels
- AssistsSeth Trimble5North Carolina Tar Heels
- ReboundsCaleb Wilson12North Carolina Tar Heels
- PointsGiovanni Emejuru21East Carolina Pirates
- AssistsIsaiah Mbeng6East Carolina Pirates
- ReboundsGiovanni Emejuru14East Carolina Pirates
Recent form
North Carolina Tar Heels
Last 10: 9-1Streak W577.8 scored · 64.7 allowed per game7-1 at home
- W71-70at Ohio State BuckeyesDec 20
- W77-58vs East Tennessee State BuccaneersDec 17
- W80-62vs South Carolina Upstate SpartansDec 13
- W81-61vs Georgetown HoyasDec 7
- W67-64at Kentucky WildcatsDec 3
- L58-74vs Michigan State SpartansNov 27
- W85-70vs St. Bonaventure BonniesNov 25
- W73-61vs Navy MidshipmenNov 19
- W97-53vs North Carolina Central EaglesNov 15
- W89-74vs Radford HighlandersNov 12
East Carolina Pirates
Last 10: 4-6Streak W265.7 scored · 71.6 allowed per game0-1 away
- W74-53vs Presbyterian Blue HoseDec 18
- W73-70vs Buffalo BullsDec 14
- L54-67vs App State MountaineersDec 12
- L78-82vs UNC Greensboro SpartansDec 6
- W68-56vs Maryland Eastern Shore HawksDec 3
- L58-67vs St. Bonaventure BonniesNov 27
- L56-89vs Michigan State SpartansNov 25
- L65-77vs Charleston Southern BuccaneersNov 22
- L60-85at UNC Wilmington SeahawksNov 19
- W71-70vs Elizabeth City State VikingsNov 14
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida | 25-9 | - | 15-3 |
| Tulsa | 30-8 | 2 | 13-5 |
| Wichita State | 24-12 | 2 | 13-5 |
| UAB | 20-12 | 4 | 11-7 |
| North Texas | 19-14 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Florida Atlantic | 18-15 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Charlotte | 17-17 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Tulane | 18-15 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Temple | 16-16 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Memphis | 13-19 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Rice | 13-18 | 8 | 7-11 |
| East Carolina | 11-20 | 9 | 6-12 |
| UTSA | 5-25 | 14 | 1-17 |
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | East Carolina Pirates | North Carolina Tar Heels |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 19-73 | 34-63 |
| Field goal % | 26 | 54 |
| Three-pointers | 2-22 | 12-25 |
| Three-point % | 9 | 48 |
| Free throws | 11-17 | 19-30 |
| Free throw % | 65 | 63 |
| Rebounds | 42 | 48 |
| Offensive rebounds | 20 | 15 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 33 |
| Assists | 8 | 20 |
| Steals | 7 | 11 |
| Blocks | 2 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 17 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 26 |
| Fast-break points | 0 | 17 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 40 |
| Fouls | 23 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 50 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 1 | 96 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half28-54Giovanni Emejuru makes 1-foot dunk (Tybo Bailey assists)
- 2nd Half28-57Henri Veesaar makes 26-foot three point jumper (Luka Bogavac assists)
- 2nd Half28-60Kyan Evans makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half28-61Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half28-62Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half30-62Giovanni Emejuru makes layup (Isaiah Mbeng assists)
- 2nd Half30-64Caleb Wilson makes 5-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half30-65Caleb Wilson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half30-67Caleb Wilson makes 2-foot alley oop dunk (Derek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half32-67Jordan Riley makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half32-69Caleb Wilson makes layup (Derek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half33-69Jordan Riley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half33-71Luka Bogavac makes 12-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half33-72Luka Bogavac makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half34-72Jordan Riley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half35-72Jordan Riley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-72Giovanni Emejuru makes driving layup
- 2nd Half37-73Caleb Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half39-73Reid Cason makes layup
- 2nd Half39-75Henri Veesaar makes 1-foot dunk (Seth Trimble assists)
- 2nd Half41-75Jordan Riley makes driving layup
- 2nd Half41-77Caleb Wilson makes 0-foot dunk (Seth Trimble assists)
- 2nd Half41-78Caleb Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-79Caleb Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-79Giovanni Emejuru makes layup (Isaiah Mbeng assists)
- 2nd Half44-79Giovanni Emejuru makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half44-82Jonathan Powell makes 23-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Denis assists)
- 2nd Half45-82Giovanni Emejuru makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-82Giovanni Emejuru makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-83Jaydon Young makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-84Isaiah Denis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-86Isaiah Denis makes 18-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half46-89Isaiah Denis makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jonathan Powell assists)
- 2nd Half46-92Jaydon Young makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jonathan Powell assists)
- 2nd Half46-94Evan Smith makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half46-96Ivan Matlekovic makes 6-foot hook shot (Evan Smith assists)
- 2nd Half49-96Vito Perkovic makes 27-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Mbeng assists)
- 2nd Half49-99Elijah Davis makes 25-foot three point jumper (Evan Smith assists)
- 2nd Half50-99Ladontae Felton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-99Ladontae Felton makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours North Carolina Tar Heels, below favours East Carolina Pirates.
Venue
- Dean E. Smith CenterChapel Hill, NC
- Attendance20479
- OfficialsRon Groover, Tony Chiazza, Bill Covington Jr.
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond