North Carolina Defeats Syracuse 77-64 in NCAAB Clash
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 1:00 PM ET · JMA Wireless Dome
North Carolina Tar Heels 77, Syracuse Orange 64, 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 North Carolina Tar Heels vs Syracuse Orange?
North Carolina Tar Heels beat Syracuse Orange 77-64 at JMA Wireless Dome on February 21, 2026.
Who was favored in North Carolina Tar Heels vs Syracuse Orange?
Syracuse Orange were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -142 (about 59% implied). The underdog won.
In a decisive matchup at the JMA Wireless Dome, the North Carolina Tar Heels emerged victorious against the Syracuse Orange with a final score of 77-64. This game was particularly significant as it marked the third meeting between these two teams in the current season, with North Carolina now leading the head-to-head record 3-0.
The Syracuse Orange entered this game with a home record of 15-13 and had struggled recently, posting a 3-7 record in their last ten games. Their scoring average during this stretch was 76.3 points per game, but they were allowing an average of 84.0 points, indicating defensive vulnerabilities. In their last game prior to facing North Carolina, Syracuse suffered a heavy defeat against the Duke Blue Devils, losing 64-101. They had managed to secure wins against the SMU Mustangs and California Golden Bears but faced a tough schedule that included losses to teams like Virginia and NC State.
On the other hand, the North Carolina Tar Heels came into the game with a stronger away record of 21-6 and a recent form of 6-4 over their last ten games. Their average scoring during this period was 79.6 points per game, while they allowed 77.0 points. North Carolina's last match saw them lose to NC State 58-82, which snapped a brief winning streak. They had previously defeated Pittsburgh and Syracuse in their earlier meetings this season, showcasing their offensive capabilities.
In terms of home and away performance, Syracuse had a home record of 3-2 in their last five games, while North Carolina had a mixed away record of 2-4, indicating that both teams had faced challenges in their recent outings. However, North Carolina's ability to secure victories at home bolstered their confidence heading into this game.
The injury situation was not detailed in the provided facts, but both teams had been managing their rosters as they approached the end of the season. The matchup was priced by DraftKings, who set the spread at SYR -2.5, indicating that Syracuse was slightly favored despite their recent struggles. The total for the game was set at 154.5, reflecting expectations for a moderately high-scoring contest.
The conditions for the game were typical for a late February matchup, with both teams looking to solidify their standings as the season neared its conclusion. Fans and analysts alike were keen to see how Syracuse would respond after their recent defeats and whether North Carolina could build momentum from their previous successes.
Throughout the game, North Carolina's offensive execution proved to be too much for Syracuse. Key scoring plays included a layup by Jarin Stevenson, who was instrumental in maintaining North Carolina's lead in the second half. The Tar Heels capitalized on their scoring opportunities, with Stevenson also contributing from the free-throw line, extending their lead to 75-57. Syracuse attempted to rally back, with Tyler Betsey hitting a three-pointer and J.J. Starling making a layup, but it was not enough to close the gap.
Ultimately, North Carolina's balanced scoring and defensive efforts allowed them to control the game, leading to a comfortable 77-64 victory. This win not only solidified their dominance over Syracuse this season but also highlighted the challenges Syracuse faces as they look to regroup and improve their defensive performance in upcoming games.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SYR -2.5 | 154.5 o -105 / u -115 | North Carolina Tar Heels +120 · Syracuse Orange -142 |
Leaders
- PointsJ.J. Starling22Syracuse Orange
- AssistsJ.J. Starling2Syracuse Orange
- ReboundsWilliam Kyle III8Syracuse Orange
- PointsHenri Veesaar19North Carolina Tar Heels
- AssistsDerek Dixon4North Carolina Tar Heels
- ReboundsZayden High11North Carolina Tar Heels
Recent form
Syracuse Orange
Last 10: 3-7Streak L176.3 scored · 84 allowed per game3-2 at home
- L64-101at Duke Blue DevilsFeb 17
- W79-78vs SMU MustangsFeb 14
- W107-100vs California Golden BearsFeb 12
- L59-72at Virginia CavaliersFeb 7
- L77-87at North Carolina Tar HeelsFeb 3
- W86-72vs Notre Dame Fighting IrishJan 31
- L68-88at NC State WolfpackJan 28
- L76-85vs Miami HurricanesJan 24
- L74-76vs Virginia Tech HokiesJan 22
- L73-81at Boston College EaglesJan 17
North Carolina Tar Heels
Last 10: 6-4Streak L179.6 scored · 77 allowed per game2-4 away
- L58-82at NC State WolfpackFeb 18
- W79-65vs Pittsburgh PanthersFeb 14
- L66-75at Miami HurricanesFeb 11
- W71-68vs Duke Blue DevilsFeb 7
- W87-77vs Syracuse OrangeFeb 3
- W91-75at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsJan 31
- W85-80at Virginia CavaliersJan 24
- W91-69vs Notre Dame Fighting IrishJan 22
- L78-84at California Golden BearsJan 17
- L90-95at Stanford CardinalJan 15
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | North Carolina Tar Heels | Syracuse Orange |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-54 | 25-59 |
| Field goal % | 52 | 42 |
| Three-pointers | 6-16 | 3-17 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 18 |
| Free throws | 15-28 | 11-16 |
| Free throw % | 54 | 69 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 34 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 25 |
| Assists | 10 | 6 |
| Steals | 5 | 4 |
| Blocks | 4 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 2 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 2 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | 4 |
| Fast-break points | 19 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 42 | 32 |
| Fouls | 18 | 23 |
| Largest lead | 18 | 6 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 74 | 21 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half40-36Luka Bogavac makes 7-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half40-38Donnie Freeman makes 4-foot dunk (Naithan George assists)
- 2nd Half42-38Seth Trimble makes layup
- 2nd Half42-40J.J. Starling makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-40Henri Veesaar makes 4-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half44-42J.J. Starling makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-44William Kyle III makes 4-foot dunk
- 2nd Half46-44Zayden High makes layup (Seth Trimble assists)
- 2nd Half48-44Seth Trimble makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half50-44Seth Trimble makes 7-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half52-44Henri Veesaar makes 4-foot dunk
- 2nd Half52-45Kiyan Anthony makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-46Kiyan Anthony makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-46Zayden High makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-46Seth Trimble makes layup
- 2nd Half56-46Seth Trimble makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half56-48Donnie Freeman makes driving layup
- 2nd Half59-48Zayden High makes 26-foot three point jumper (Derek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half59-49Tyler Betsey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-50Donnie Freeman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-51Donnie Freeman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-51Derek Dixon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-51Derek Dixon makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-53Donnie Freeman makes 7-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half63-53Luka Bogavac makes driving layup
- 2nd Half65-53Henri Veesaar makes 6-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half65-54Donnie Freeman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-54Henri Veesaar makes layup (Jarin Stevenson assists)
- 2nd Half67-57Tyler Betsey makes 29-foot three point jumper (William Kyle III assists)
- 2nd Half69-57Seth Trimble makes layup (Luka Bogavac assists)
- 2nd Half70-57Seth Trimble makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-57Seth Trimble makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-57Jarin Stevenson makes layup (Luka Bogavac assists)
- 2nd Half74-57Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-57Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-60Tyler Betsey makes 28-foot three point jumper (J.J. Starling assists)
- 2nd Half76-60Luka Bogavac makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-62J.J. Starling makes layup
- 2nd Half77-62Luka Bogavac makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-64J.J. Starling makes 12-foot jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours Syracuse Orange, below favours North Carolina Tar Heels.
Venue
- JMA Wireless DomeSyracuse, NY
- Attendance23606
- OfficialsRon Groover, Jerry Heater, Tommy Morrissey
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- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond