North Carolina Dominates Georgia Tech With Commanding Road Victory

North Carolina’s Tar Heels showed up in Atlanta on January 31, 2026, and left little doubt about their intentions for the remainder of the ACC season. Facing the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at McCamish Pavilion, the Tar Heels delivered a dominant 91-75 victory, marking their second consecutive ACC road win and pushing their record to an impressive 17-4 overall, 5-3 in conference play. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, dropped to 11-11 on the year and 2-7 in the ACC, extending their home losing streak to four games.

Coming into Saturday’s matchup, the Tar Heels were riding high after their hard-fought 85-80 win at Virginia the previous weekend. That victory had snapped a pattern of road woes—prior to that, all four UNC losses had come away from Chapel Hill. With a week’s rest and renewed confidence, North Carolina looked to build on their momentum, while Georgia Tech sought a season-defining upset after a frustrating loss to Virginia Tech earlier in the week.

From the opening tip, North Carolina wasted no time asserting control. The Tar Heels jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, setting the tone for a first half that saw them shoot a scorching 50% from the field. Caleb Wilson, the highly touted future NBA lottery pick, was a force early, racking up 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting by halftime. Henry Veesaar also made his presence felt, tallying 11 points and six rebounds in the opening period. The Tar Heels’ depth was on full display, with Jarin Stevenson and Seth Trimble providing crucial support on both ends of the floor.

Georgia Tech, for their part, managed to keep things close in the early going. Baye Ndongo led the Yellow Jackets with five points in the opening minutes, and the starting lineup of Lamar Washington, Jaeden Mustaf, Akai Fleming, Kowacie Reeves Jr., and Ndongo hustled to match UNC’s intensity. However, the Tar Heels’ relentless pressure and superior length gradually wore down the home team. By the midway point of the first half, North Carolina had found a rhythm from beyond the arc, knocking down four consecutive three-pointers to extend their lead to 31-19.

The Yellow Jackets’ struggles inside the arc—a season-long issue—were magnified against UNC’s imposing frontcourt. Georgia Tech, which had relied on scoring in the paint for over 41% of its points this year, found little room to operate against the Tar Heels, who rank fifth nationally in two-point field goal percentage allowed. Turnover woes further hampered Tech’s offense, leading to easy transition buckets for North Carolina.

By halftime, the Tar Heels had built a commanding 52-37 lead, fueled by a 26-18 advantage in points in the paint and a barrage of six made three-pointers. The crowd in Atlanta, hopeful for a Yellow Jackets resurgence, instead witnessed a North Carolina team firing on all cylinders. As the teams headed to the locker room, it was clear that Georgia Tech faced an uphill battle.

In the second half, North Carolina never let up. The Tar Heels maintained their offensive efficiency, with Seth Trimble, Wilson, and Veesaar each finishing the game with over 15 points. According to in-game updates, "North Carolina is in full control of the game and getting it done on both ends," and by the 4:20 mark of the second half, they held an 86-68 lead. The Tar Heels’ discipline was evident at the free throw line, where they converted 9 of 10 attempts in the second half, continuing to put pressure on the Yellow Jackets by attacking the rim and refusing to settle for contested jump shots.

Georgia Tech’s brightest moments came courtesy of Kam Craft, who reached double figures with 11 points, and Baye Ndongo, who finished with 11 points in the first half. Kowacie Reeves Jr., the team’s leading scorer on the season, worked tirelessly to spark a comeback, but the Yellow Jackets simply couldn’t keep pace with North Carolina’s balanced attack and suffocating defense. The home side’s shooting from beyond the arc—35.8% on the season—wasn’t enough to close the gap, as UNC’s perimeter defense held strong.

By the final buzzer, North Carolina had outscored Georgia Tech by 16 points, closing out a 91-75 victory that showcased their depth, discipline, and postseason potential. The win snapped a three-game home losing streak for the Yellow Jackets and marked the Tar Heels’ second road victory in as many weeks—a notable turnaround for a team that had struggled away from the Dean Dome earlier in the season.

The statistics tell the story: North Carolina outscores opponents by an average of 12.5 points per game, and Saturday was no exception. The Tar Heels averaged 82.6 points per game coming in, and they exceeded that mark with a balanced, efficient performance. Their three-point shooting—8.8 makes per game at a 34.6% clip—was on display, as was their dominance in the paint. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, continued to outscore opponents by a slim 1.4 margin on the year, but defensive rankings and home-court advantage weren’t enough to slow down the Tar Heels’ offensive juggernaut.

For North Carolina, the victory is more than just another tick in the win column. It’s a statement to the rest of the ACC that the Tar Heels, with their youthful depth and emerging stars, are a legitimate threat as the season heads toward its climax. Head coach Hubert Davis appears to have settled on his best rotations, with Derek Dixon orchestrating the offense at point guard and Jonathan Powell contributing in ways that go beyond the box score.

Georgia Tech, on the other hand, faces tough questions as they look to regroup for the remainder of the season. Despite strong individual performances from Reeves Jr. and Ndongo, the Yellow Jackets’ offensive inconsistency and turnover issues remain glaring weaknesses. The team’s defensive metrics—ranking 30th in effective field goal percentage allowed—are encouraging, but not enough to overcome the firepower of elite opponents like North Carolina.

Looking ahead, North Carolina will return home to host Syracuse on February 2, aiming to extend their winning streak and solidify their position in the upper echelon of the ACC standings. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly if they hope to salvage their season and make a late push for postseason relevance.

As the ACC season heats up, Saturday’s result in Atlanta serves as a reminder: the Tar Heels are back on track, and their blend of size, skill, and swagger makes them a team no one wants to face down the stretch. Georgia Tech, searching for answers, will have to wait a little longer for that elusive signature win.