UNC's Shooting Collapse Falls Short Against Michigan State in Fort Myers

The North Carolina Tar Heels entered Thursday night’s game against the Michigan State Spartans with a perfect 6-0 record and the confidence of a team poised for a deep NCAA tournament run. By the final buzzer at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida, that optimism had evaporated. In a stunning 74-58 loss on November 27, 2025, the Tar Heels didn’t just lose—they unraveled. Their offense, once among the most efficient in the country, looked lost. Their defense, usually disciplined, couldn’t contain a Spartans team that seized control with ruthless efficiency. This wasn’t a fluke. It was a reckoning.

When the Shots Stopped Falling

The numbers tell a brutal story: North Carolina shot 38.2% from the field—its lowest of the season—and a disastrous 17.4% from three-point range (4 of 23). In the second half alone, they made just one of 11 threes. They scored 58 points, their fewest since January 2024. They grabbed only 30 rebounds, their lowest total in 2025-26. They dished out nine assists, a season low. And for the first time this season, they were outrebounded—37 to 30.

Meanwhile, the Michigan State Spartans shot 51.7% overall and 50% from deep (5 of 10). Their guards moved the ball with surgical precision, and their big men dominated the glass. Jeremy Fears Jr., the Spartans’ dynamic guard, led all scorers with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, adding seven assists and five rebounds. He wasn’t just scoring—he was orchestrating. When UNC tried to rally in the second half, Fears responded with a high-arching bank shot with the shot clock winding down, silencing the few Tar Heels fans in attendance.

The Turning Point: Veesaar’s Foul Trouble

The game’s pivotal moment didn’t come with a buzzer-beater or a dunk. It came with a whistle.

With 7:13 left in the first half and UNC leading 22-15, freshman center Henri Veesaar from Estonia picked up his second foul and headed to the bench. In that instant, the momentum shifted. Michigan State went on an 18-6 run to close the half, turning a seven-point deficit into a five-point lead. The Tar Heels didn’t score again until the 12:45 mark of the second half.

"It’s not just the foul," said one assistant coach after the game, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It’s what it exposed. We don’t have a Plan B when Veesaar’s off the floor. We’re too reliant on him to protect the rim and space the floor. When he’s out, our offense stalls."

Without Veesaar, UNC’s interior defense collapsed. Jaxson Kohler of Michigan State grabbed 11 rebounds—his third double-double of the season—and the Spartans’ defense swarmed every drive. UNC’s guards, usually aggressive, became hesitant. Their passes became predictable. Their shots became contested, then airballs.

Bench Woes and Missed Opportunities

The disparity in bench play was staggering. Michigan State’s reserves outscored UNC’s 20-5. The Tar Heels’ bench points came from just two players: Jonathan Powell (3) and Zayden High (2). Meanwhile, Michigan State’s Carson Cooper added 14 points and six rebounds, and Cameron Ward chipped in 11. The Spartans’ depth wasn’t just better—it was decisive.

For UNC, freshman Caleb Wilson led the team with 18 points and seven rebounds, but he picked up three fouls in the first half and never found his rhythm after halftime. Luka Bogavac added 11 points and five assists, but even his playmaking couldn’t overcome the team’s shooting woes. And while Powell matched Wilson’s seven rebounds, it wasn’t enough to offset Michigan State’s physical dominance on the glass.

What This Loss Means for UNC

This wasn’t just a bad night. It was a red flag. The Tar Heels are now 6-1, and their path to a top-four seed in March just got a lot harder. Their offense, which had been averaging 81.5 points per game, now looks vulnerable. Their three-point shooting, once a strength, has become a liability. And their lack of depth—especially in the frontcourt—is now glaring.

Coach Hubert Davis, in his fifth season, has built a team known for toughness and resilience. But this loss exposed a team that still lacks consistent scoring options beyond its starters. When the shots aren’t falling—and they didn’t fall on Thursday—UNC has no secondary plan.

"We’re 6-16 in five seasons under Coach Davis when an opponent shoots 50% or better," noted UNC’s official postgame notes. That stat isn’t just a footnote—it’s a pattern. And Michigan State shot 51.7%.

What’s Next? Kentucky Looms

The Tar Heels now face their toughest test yet: a road game against the University of Kentucky Wildcats on December 2, 2025, at 9:30 p.m. EST, televised nationally on ESPN. Kentucky’s defense is aggressive, their frontcourt is physical, and they thrive on turnovers. If UNC can’t fix their shooting, their decision-making, and their bench production, this could be a season-defining loss—not just a bad night in Fort Myers.

For now, the message from Chapel Hill is clear: If you can’t shoot, you can’t win. And right now, the Tar Heels can’t shoot.