Freshman Caleb Wilson scored a game-high 22 points in his first collegiate game, but it wasn’t enough as UNC fell to No. 8 BYU 78-76 in a preseason exhibition in Salt Lake City Friday night.

A frantic finish capped off a competitive game, one which saw neither team lead by more than eight points all night. The Tar Heels took their largest lead of the game at 68-64 at the 5:12 mark of the second half, but the Cougars would use a 14-5 run to take a 78-73 lead inside the final 30 seconds, seemingly icing the victory. But Seth Trimble was fouled on a three-pointer on UNC’s ensuing possession and made all three free throws, cutting the deficit to 78-76. On the other end, BYU’s Richie Saunders missed two free throws in a row, giving UNC a chance to steal a win.

After a timeout, Carolina gave the ball to Trimble, who attacked the rim but was denied by BYU center Keba Keita as time ran out.

Keita was one of four Cougars to reach double figures, scoring 16 points and adding 10 rebounds. Five-star freshman A.J. Dybantsa led BYU with 18 points, while Baylor transfer Robert Wright III scored 12 and Saunders added 14.

Wilson paced UNC’s offense with a double-double of his own, scoring 22 points to go along with 10 rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Trimble scored 17 and grabbed seven rebounds, and Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Seven different Tar Heels scored at least once.

Alabama transfer Jarin Stevenson started for Carolina, alongside Trimble, Veesaar, Wilson and Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans. Off the bench, freshman Derek Dixon (seven points) and West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell (three) were the only reserves to score. Zayden High, James Brown and Virginia Tech transfer Jaydon Young also played. Montenegrin national Luka Bogavac did not play as he continues to work through eligibility issues with the university, and freshman Isaiah Denis dressed out but did not play due to a finger injury.

UNC will play its second and final exhibition of the preseason next Wednesday when it hosts Winston-Salem State at the Smith Center at 7:30 p.m.

 

Featured image via Associated Press/Tyler Tate

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC's Caleb Wilson Declares for 2026 NBA Draft
UNC star freshman Caleb Wilson will forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2026 NBA Draft, he announced on social media Friday night. Wilson’s announcement comes less than a week after the university dismissed Hubert Davis as the head coach of the men’s basketball program. View this post on Instagram Wilson finished his freshman […]
Lloyd, May or Donovan? Pros and Cons of 3 Candidates for the UNC Men's Basketball Head Coaching Job
As UNC continues to search for its next men’s basketball head coach, three names which have been floated as prime candidates for the job are Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, Michigan head coach Dusty May and Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan. All three men have had ringing success on the college stage, but there […]
Chansky's Notebook: In Others' Hands
Since his first year as UNC head coach, Hubert Davis has failed to meet the program’s lofty standards over the past four seasons.
The Signs Were There for a UNC Men's Basketball Collapse. Against VCU, It Finally Happened.
UNC's 2025-26 season came crashing down around it Thursday night in Greenville, as the Tar Heels blew a 19-point lead in the second half.
UNC Men's Basketball Left to Pick Up the Pieces Following Shattering NCAA Tournament Loss
The UNC locker room was quiet. Some players sat with their heads in their hands. Some had red and puffy eyes. Others simply sat with blank looks, seemingly unable to fully grasp what they had just seen. That goes for all of us. The Tar Heels let a 19-point lead with 15 minutes remaining slip […]
UNC Men's Basketball Blows 19-Point Lead, Falls to VCU in NCAA Tournament 1st Round
Despite leading 56-37 in the second half, UNC fell 82-78 to No. 11 seed VCU in overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday in Greenville. Carolina’s season is over. UNC had led for more than 34 minutes of game action, taking control after the Rams led 18-17 midway through the first half. […]
UNC Men's Basketball in the 2026 NCAA Tournament: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Times
UNC will begin its NCAA Tournament journey Thursday in Greenville, S.C. when it faces No. 11 seed VCU in the first round. It will be the first ever meeting between the Tar Heels and Rams in men’s basketball. If you aren’t going to Greenville with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: […]
UNC Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament Opponent Breakdown: VCU
No. 6 seed UNC will begin its NCAA Tournament journey Thursday in Greenville, S.C. when it faces No. 11 seed VCU in the first round. The Rams enter the field with a 27-7 overall record and 15-3 mark in the Atlantic 10. They defeated Duquesne, St. Joseph’s and Dayton to win their second consecutive Atlantic […]
Chansky's Notebook: Recalibrating
If Hubert Davis is to be believed, UNC is recapturing its toughness at the right time as the NCAA Tournament looms.
Chansky's Notebook: Back to Greenville
UNC’s late-season slide may have lucked it into a shorter road trip, as the Tar Heels traveled to Greenville yesterday.
›