UNC basketball vs. Michigan State: Game preview, info and more

UNC basketball vs. Michigan State: Game preview, info and moreStory byAidan Jensen, Tar Heels WireWed, November 26, 2025 at 6:56 PM UTC·4 min read

The North Carolina Tar Heels passed yet another, early-season contest on Tuesday night, pulling away from St. Bonaventure in the second half of an 85-70 win.

The score tells you one story, but UNC (6-0) struggled through most of the first half, at one point trailing by two (32-30). North Carolina responded from a 2-point halftime lead, quickly jolted further ahead in the second half and never looked back.

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Next up for the Tar Heels is a 4:30 p.m., Thanksgiving Day tip-off against Michigan State. This matchup has Game of the Year written all over it, with both UNC and the Spartans sitting 6-0.

MSU won its opening game of the Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off with ease, dismantling East Carolina in an 89-56 result Tuesday night. This was the Spartans' fifth multi-possession win through six games, with their average victory margin a whopping 18.5 points.

North Carolina's average margin of victory is 23.2 points, with its largest win a 97-53 thumping of NC Central. The new-look Tar Heels are led by Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson, but their depth and size goes deeper than the starting lineup.

UNC knows how to play against Power Four competition, as evidenced by an 87-74 win over Kansas earlier in November. Following the Spartans, North Carolina travels up to Lexington, Ky. for an ACC-SEC Challenge battle with Kentucky.

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What do you need to know about this can't-miss Thanksgiving Day matchup? Make sure you keep reading below for our key to victory, something to watch, statistical leaders, streaming information and the Tar Heels' full schedule.

Key to Victory

Nov 25, 2025; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Luka Bogavac (44) drives to the basket past St. Bonaventure Bonnies guard Amar’E Marshall (2) in the first half at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Out-score MSU early and don't ease up.

The Tar Heels played one of their best 2025 opening stretches on Tuesday night, racing out to a 15-5 lead against St. Bonaventure. Wilson, Luka Bogavac, Henri Veesaar and Jarin Stevenson all scored, showcasing the depth and balance across UNC's roster.

The Spartans are led by their inside-out duo of Jaxon Kohler and Jeremy Fears Jr., but their offense doesn't compare to North Carolina's.

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Something to Watch

Nov 25, 2025; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) reacts after a basket against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the first half at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

What Veesaar delivers for an encore against Michigan State.

Veesaar turned heads against St. Bonaventure on Tuesday night, recording a 24-point, 13-rebound double-double. The Tar Heels lacked this type of star-level production at center a season ago, but Veesaar is quickly proving himself as a massive pickup.

Veesaar now has three double-doubles through six games, so a fourth on Thursday isn't an unreasonable ask.

Statistical leaders

Nov 25, 2025; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Kyan Evans (0) looks to pass the ball against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the first half at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Points

UNC: Caleb Wilson (20.5)

Michigan State: Jaxon Kohler (15.3)

Rebounds

UNC: Caleb Wilson (10.3)

Michigan State: Jaxon Kohler (9.5)

Assists

UNC: Kyan Evans (4.8)

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Michigan State: Jeremy Fears Jr. (10.2)

What you need to know

TarHeelsWire How to Watch

WHAT? North Carolina Tar Heels (6-0) vs. Michigan State Spartans (6-0)

WHEN? Thursday, November 27 at 4:30 p.m. ET

WHERE? Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida

TV? FOX Sports

RADIO? SiriusXM (Channel 84 and 195)

LINE? N/A

LAST MEETING? Michigan State def. North Carolina, 94-91, on November 27, 2024

ALL-TIME SERIES: UNC leads, 13-5

PREDICTION? UNC 78, MSU 70

UNC basketball 2025-26 schedule

October 4: Blue-White Scrimmage (White 55, Blue 50)

Oct. 24: at BYU (preseason, L 78-76)

Oct. 29: vs. Winston-Salem State (preseason, W 95-53)

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Nov. 3: vs. Central Arkansas (W, 94-54)

Nov. 7: vs. Kansas (W, 87-74)

Nov. 11: vs. Radford (W, 89-74)

Nov. 14: vs. NC Central (W, 97-53)

Nov. 18: vs. Navy (W, 73-61)

Nov. 25: vs. St. Bonaventure in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (W, 85-70)

Nov. 27: vs. Michigan State in Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off (4:30 p.m.)

December 2: at Kentucky (9:30 p.m.)

Dec. 7: vs. Georgetown (5 p.m.)

Dec. 13: vs. USC Upstate (2 p.m.)

Dec. 16: vs. ETSU (8 p.m.)

Dec. 20: vs. Ohio State in CBS Sports Classic (3 p.m. in Atlanta, Ga.)

Dec. 22: vs. East Carolina (8 p.m.)

Dec. 30: vs. Florida State (2:15 p.m.)

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January 3, 2026: at SMU (2:15 p.m.)

Jan. 10, 2026: vs. Wake Forest (6 p.m.)

Jan. 14, 2026: at Stanford (9 p.m.)

Jan. 17, 2026: at California (4 p.m.)

Jan. 21, 2026: vs. Notre Dame (7 p.m.)

Jan. 24, 2026: at Virginia (TBA)

Jan. 31, 2026: at Georgia Tech (2 p.m.)

Feb. 2, 2026: vs. Syracuse (7 p.m.)

Feb. 7, 2026: vs. Duke (6:30 p.m.)

Feb. 10, 2026: at Miami (FL) (7 p.m.)

Feb. 14, 2026: vs. Pitt (2 p.m.)

Feb. 17, 2026: at NC State (7 p.m.)

Feb. 21, 2026: at Syracuse (1 p.m.)

Feb. 23, 2026: vs. Louisville (7 p.m.)

Feb. 28, 2026: vs. Virginia Tech (TBA)

March 3, 2026: vs. Clemson (7 p.m.)

March 7, 2026: at Duke (6:30 p.m.)

March 10-14, 2026: ACC Tournament in Spectrum Center (Charlotte, N.C.)

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball vs. Michigan State: Game preview, info and more

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