11/18/25 08:18:00
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11/18 20:16 CST Wilson pushes No. 18 North Carolina past Navy, 73-61
Wilson pushes No. 18 North Carolina past Navy, 73-61
By MITCHELL NORTHAM
Associated Press
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) --- Caleb Wilson had 23 points and 12 rebounds, leading
No. 18 North Carolina to a 73-61 win over Navy on Tuesday night.
A true freshman, Wilson also had four steals and three blocks for the Tar Heels
(5-0). Luka Bogavac added 16 points, Jarin Stevenson scored 11 and Henri
Veesaar had 10.
Austin Benigni scored 19 points for Navy (2-3) and Jinwoo Kim added 14 in the
Midshipmen's first trip to Chapel Hill since 1936.
UNC led wire-to-wire, but Navy trimmed the deficit to three points midway
through the first half on a layup from Donovan Draper. The Tar Heels responded
with a 14-5 run --- capped off by free throws from Bogavac --- to retake a
comfortable double-digit advantage.
Navy cut the Tar Heels' lead to four points early in the second half, but UNC
answered with a 24-7 run, highlighted by three spectacular transition dunks
from Wilson.
Despite returning 86.6 percent of its scoring from last season --- the most of
any roster in the nation this year --- Navy had trouble finding the basket
consistently against UNC, shooting just 30.4 percent from the floor. The Tar
Heels have held four opponents to under 40-percent shooting this season and are
now 49-4 under fifth-year coach Hubert Davis when doing so.
North Carolina became the third program in Division I men's basketball to reach
2,400 victories, joining Kentucky and Kansas.
This victory marked the final of five consecutive home games to start the
season for the Tar Heels, the longest season-opening home stretch they've had
since 1918. UNC won't return to the Dean Smith Center until Dec. 7.
Up next
North Carolina: Plays St. Bonaventure in the Fort Myers Tip-Off next Tuesday.
Navy: Hosts NJIT on Saturday.
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