North Carolina survives scare vs. Ohio State: Tar Heels take down Buckeyes in CBS Sports Classic

No. 12 UNC won its fifth consecutive game on a late slam by Henri Veesaar

No. 12 North Carolina defeated Ohio State 71-70 on Saturday in the second game of the CBS Sports Classic. With 48 seconds remaining, Ohio State guard John Mobley Jr. converted a free throw after he was fouled on a 3-pointer to give his team the lead. Afterwards, UNC forced a turnover after scoring and star big man Henri Veesaar converted a go-ahead dunk with seven seconds remaining.

The Tar Heels led by as many as 11 points midway through the second half and were able to hold on for another huge nonconference win. Ohio State guard Devin Royal missed a go-ahead jumper at the buzzer that would've given his team the lead.

The Tar Heels (11-1) won their fifth consecutive game after falling to Michigan State last month. With the win over the Buckeyes, UNC is off to its best start since the 2008-09 campaign. During that year, UNC started 12-0 and went on to win the national title.

Additionally, North Carolina won its third game this season against a Quad 1 opponent after going 1-13 against those teams last season.

After starting slow in the first half, UNC star freshman Caleb Wilson -- a projected lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft -- came alive. Wilson scored 16 of his 20 points after halftime and finished with his eighth double-double (20 points, 15 rebounds) of the season.

Ohio State (8-3) has now lost three of its last five games after starting 6-0. The Buckeyes came into the weekend averaging 87.6 points per game, which is on track to be the Buckeyes' most since the 1969-70 campaign (88.1 ppg). 

North Carolina faces East Carolina next on Monday, while Ohio State has a date with Grambling on Tuesday.

Keep it locked here as CBS Sports provides you with live updates, highlights and analysis as North Carolina battles Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic

[Dec 20, 2025 at 5:44 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UNC got a major boost the day before this game when the program announced Trimble would return. The UNC standout defender had missed the last nine games due to a forearm injury. Trimble showed his value against Ohio State by finishing with 17 points, three assists and two rebounds. The best version of UNC revolves around Trimble being in the starting lineup. The Tar Heels are lucky to have him back before ACC play begins.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 5:42 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Ohio State has been up and down lately. The Buckeyes have now lost three of their last five games after a 6-0 start. This is going to be one of those games the Buckeyes potentially look back on in March. After mounting an incredible comeback down the stretch, a key turnover allowed UNC to score a go-ahead bucket. Ohio State came into this game averaging over 86 points per game. The Buckeyes were held to just 70 against UNC. Notably, North Carolina hasn't allowed an opponent to score over 75 this season.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 5:39 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

FINAL: No. 12 North Carolina 71, Ohio State 70

Wilson didn't record his first points of the game until deep in the first half. However, after that moment, Wilson was almost unstoppable. He recorded his eighth double-double of the season (20 points, 15 rebounds) and validated why he's such a highly touted prospect with this kind of performance. Wilson has an elite motor, and that was on full display on Ohio State's final offensive possession. Wilson makes winning plays.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 5:33 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

FINAL: No. 12 North Carolina 71, Ohio State 70

No. 12 North Carolina defeated Ohio State 71-70 on Saturday in the second game of the CBS Sports Classic. With 48 seconds remaining, Ohio State guard John Mobley Jr. converted a free throw after he was fouled on a 3-pointer to give his team the lead. Afterwards, UNC forced a turnover after scoring and star big man Henri Veesaar converted a go-ahead dunk with seven seconds remaining.

The Tar Heels led by as many as 11 points midway through the second half and were able to hold on for another huge nonconference win. Ohio State guard Devin Royal missed a go-ahead jumper at the buzzer that would've given his team the lead.

The Tar Heels (11-1) won their fifth consecutive game after falling to Michigan State last month. With the win over the Buckeyes, UNC is off to its best start since the 2008-09 campaign. During that year, UNC started 12-0 and went on to win the national title.

Additionally, North Carolina won its third game this season against a Quad 1 opponent after going 1-13 against those teams last season.

After starting slow in the first half, UNC star freshman Caleb Wilson -- a projected lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft -- came alive. Wilson scored 16 of his 20 points after halftime and finished with his eighth double-double (20 points, 15 rebounds) of the season.

Ohio State (8-3) has now lost three of its last five games after starting 6-0. The Buckeyes came into the weekend averaging 87.6 points per game, which is on track to be the Buckeyes' most since the 1969-70 campaign (88.1 ppg). 

North Carolina faces East Carolina next on Monday, while Ohio State has a date with Grambling on Tuesday.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 5:23 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

North Carolina leads Ohio State 67-66 with 1:39 remaining. This is going to be a fantastic finish.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 5:04 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

MID 2H: No. 12 North Carolina 59, Ohio State 51

If Ohio State is going to win this game, Thornton is going to have to carry his team down the stretch. The Buckeyes' best player has scored six of his 12 points after halftime and is 6 of 13 from the floor overall. If Ohio State is going to continue to chip away at the deficit, it's going to start with Thornton.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 4:55 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

EARLY 2H: No. 12 North Carolina 56, Ohio State 45

North Carolina has extended its lead to 11 points with 11:13 remaining in regulation. The Tar Heels have outscored the Buckeyes 22-14 in the second half behind the strong play of Wilson. The future lottery pick has nine points and three rebounds through the first nine minutes of action. UNC as a team has shot 9 of 16 from the floor.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 4:41 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Points were at a premium during the opening minutes of the first half, but that hasn't been the case through the first few minutes of the second. There have been 23 total points scored in the first four minutes of action. UNC guard Seth Trimble has six points, while Caleb Wilson has five. Ohio State averages nearly 90 points a game, while UNC hasn't allowed more than 75 points in a game this season.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 4:16 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

HALF: No. 12 North Carolina 34, Ohio State 31

We have reached halftime of the second leg of the CBS Sports Classic from Atlanta. No. 12 North Carolina leads Ohio State 34-31 behind a strong first half from big man Henri Vessaar, who scored a team-high nine points. The top NBA Draft prospect in this game is UNC freshman Caleb Wilson and despite recording multiple double-doubles already this season, got off to a slow start offensively. 

Wilson scored his first bucket late in the first half but added seven rebounds and two assists.

Entering this game, Ohio State was averaging 87.6 points per game, while UNC's defense had yet to allow over 75 points in a game this season. Ohio State forward Devin Royal has a team-high 12 points.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 4:07 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

LATE 1H: No. 12 North Carolina 27, Ohio State 20

Here comes North Carolina. The Tar Heels have made five of their last seven shots, while Ohio State is 1 of 8 in that stretch. The Buckeyes have been scoreless for the last three minutes.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 3:54 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

MID 1H: No. 12 North Carolina 17, Ohio State 16

One of the most important players on this North Carolina roster is Seth Trimble, who had missed the last nine games due to a forearm injury. Trimble is back for the first time in a month against Ohio State and just recorded his first field goal of the game to give North Carolina the lead back. Another notable development is that UNC star freshman Caleb Wilson is scoreless. He's missed his first three shots but has four rebounds, two assists and a block.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 3:43 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

EARLY 1H: No. 12 North Carolina 10, Ohio State 9

Through the first eight minutes of play, points have been at a premium. Ohio State is 4 of 16 from the floor, while UNC is 4 of 15. However, the bright spot has been Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar. He is 3 of 4 from the floor and has a game-high seven points. Meanwhile, Ohio State forward Amare Bynum has four points.

"I like how tough we are playing," Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said on the CBS Sports broadcast.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 3:35 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

EARLY 1H: Ohio State 5, No. 12 North Carolina 4

We have reached the first media timeout from Atlanta. Ohio State leads No. 12 North Carolina 5-4. UNC is 2 of 9 from the floor, while Ohio State is 2 of 10. North Carolina big man Henri Veesaar has all four of his team's points so far.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 3:28 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

The second leg of the CBS Sports Classic is officially underway.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 2:45 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

The matchup to watch here is Ohio State's offense vs. UNC's defense. If the Tar Heels can limit an explosive offense, Hubert's squad should be able to come away with a win. Wilson is the X-Factor here. He has been a double-double machine this season, and I expect him to finish with one against Ohio State. Give me UNC to win by at least five points. Pick: North Carolina -4.5

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[Dec 20, 2025 at 2:15 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

It's no secret that UNC coach Hubert Davis entered this season facing pressure. Through the first month and a half of the season, his team has played extremely well. With a win over the Buckeyes, UNC can improve to 11-1, which would be the program's best start since the 2008-09 season. During that year, UNC started 12-0 and went on to win the national title.

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[Dec 20, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

The North Carolina standout defender is expected to return against Ohio State after missing the last month with a forearm injury, according to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander. He has missed the last nine games for the Tar Heels and is one of their most important players.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 1:30 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Entering this game, Ohio State is scoring 87.6 points per game. That is on track to be the Buckeyes' most since the 1969-70 campaign (88.1 ppg). The head of the snake of the offense has been Thornton, who is averaging 21.8 points. However, Ohio State has three other players (John Mobley Jr., Christoph Tilly and Devin Royal) averaging at least 13 points. Notably, UNC is allowing just 64.1 points per game and hasn't allowed more than 75 in a game this season.

[Dec 20, 2025 at 1:00 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

The best NBA Draft prospect playing in this game is Wilson. The former five-star recruit is a projected top-five pick in this summer's draft because of his strong start to the season. Wilson is averaging 19.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He has recorded a double-double in seven games thus far. If Ohio State can't contain him, it will be a long night for the Buckeyes.

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