Saturday was the scare UNC needed. After trailing by one late in the first half, then later watching its second-half lead shrink to eight, North Carolina escaped USC Upstate with an 80-62 win.
The Tar Heels (9-1) rode much-improved perimeter shooting to victory, headlined by 10 makes on 23 attempts. West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell, who tied his career high with 17 points, nailed three trifectas.
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Even with an unexpected challenge, UNC still won Saturday – and did so in blowout fashion again. In the December 15 men’s basketball AP Poll, North Carolina climbed to 12th, rising two spots from last week.
The Tar Heels find themselves one spot behind Louisville, which won by 26 on Saturday and one spot ahead of Vanderbilt, which remains undefeated with a 11-point win over Central Arkansas.
UNC will be tested in its next game, traveling to Atlanta for a CBS Sports Classic matchup with Ohio State. The Buckeyes (8-2) escaped West Virginia in overtime Saturday, winning 89-88 for their third, one-point decision through 10 games.
Saturday will be a homecoming for Caleb Wilson, who played his high school ball at Holy Innocents Episcopal in Atlanta. Wilson won a state championship earlier in 2025, while also earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
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North Carolina’s schedule eases up a bit after facing OSU, with home matchups against East Carolina (December 22) and Florida State (Dec. 30) to close out the year. The Tar Heels’ first ACC road game come January 3, when it travels to Dallas for a battle with 9-2 SMU.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball climbs two spots to 12th in December 15 AP Poll
