Jeremy Fears Jr. leads No. 11 Michigan State to victory over No. 16 North Carolina with 19 points
AP
Nov 27, 2025
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 19 points and No. 11 Michigan State pulled away to beat No. 16 North Carolina Tar Heels 74-58 In the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Thursday.
Fears, who came in leading the nation in assists at more than 10 per game, added seven assists. Carson Cooper had 14 points, Cam Ward 11 and Jaxson Kohler 10 along with 11 rebounds for his third double-double of season.
Caleb Wilson led North Carolina (6-1) with 18 points, Henri Veesaar had 13 and Luka Bogavac added 11, but the Tar Heels shot just 38% (21 of 55).
Michigan State (7-0) went 5 of 10 on 3-pointers while North Carolina went 4 of 23. The Spartans also had a 20-5 margin in bench points.
Wilson led the Tar Heels to an early 22-15 lead.
However, the Spartans tightened their defense and held North Carolina scoreless for more than 4 1/2 minutes during a 13-0 run to go up 28-22. Cooper’s left-handed slam off an alley-oop pass from Fears highlighted the run.
Michigan State led 33-28 at halftime.
With play speeding up in the second half, the Spartans increased their lead.
Kohler’s 3-pointer put Michigan State ahead 53-44. North Carolina drew within 55-52 but the Spartans responded with a 9-0 run. After making a 3-pointer, Fears fed Ward for a layup. A few minutes later, Fears hit a high-arching bank shot in the paint with the shot clock at zero to put the Spartans on top 66-54 with 4:26 left.
While North Carolina has a 13-6 edge in the series, Michigan State has won three of the last four between the teams.
Michigan State will open Big Ten play at home against Iowa on Tuesday.
North Carolina will travel to Kentucky, also on Tuesday.
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1st Half
UNC
Tar Heels
28
MIST
Spartans
33
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Caleb Wilson vs. Carson Cooper (Jeremy Fears Jr. gains possession)
19:40
+3
Trey Fort makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
0-3
19:21
Henri Veesaar misses two point hook shot
19:19
Carson Cooper defensive rebound
19:14
+2
Coen Carr makes two point dunk (Carson Cooper assists)
0-5
18:46
+2
Caleb Wilson makes two point dunk
2-5
18:23
Carson Cooper turnover (bad pass) (Jarin Stevenson steals)
18:00
Coen Carr blocks Jarin Stevenson's two point layup
17:58
Trey Fort defensive rebound
17:52
Coen Carr misses two point hook shot
17:50
Jaxon Kohler offensive rebound
17:42
Jaxon Kohler turnover (Caleb Wilson steals)
17:39
+2
Caleb Wilson makes two point dunk
4-5
17:22
Caleb Wilson personal foul (Jaxon Kohler draws the foul)
17:04
Trey Fort misses two point jump shot
17:02
Carson Cooper offensive rebound
16:50
Coen Carr misses three point jump shot
16:48
Jaxon Kohler offensive rebound
16:45
+2
Jaxon Kohler makes two point layup
4-7
16:25
Carson Cooper shooting foul (Caleb Wilson draws the foul)
16:25
+1
Caleb Wilson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
5-7
16:25
+1
Caleb Wilson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
6-7
16:19
Cam Ward misses two point layup
16:17
Caleb Wilson defensive rebound
16:12
+2
Luka Bogavac makes two point layup
8-7
15:46
+2
Coen Carr makes two point dunk
8-9
15:38
Trey Fort personal foul (Luka Bogavac draws the foul)
15:38
TV timeout
15:25
+2
Henri Veesaar makes two point layup (Luka Bogavac assists)
10-9
15:00
+2
Coen Carr makes two point jump shot
10-11
14:42
Jeremy Fears Jr. personal foul (Luka Bogavac draws the foul)
14:40
Kur Teng personal foul (Luka Bogavac draws the foul)
14:31
+2
Caleb Wilson makes two point dunk (Luka Bogavac assists)
12-11
14:06
+2
Carson Cooper makes two point hook shot
12-13
13:47
Luka Bogavac misses two point layup
13:45
Kur Teng defensive rebound
13:45
Henri Veesaar personal foul (Carson Cooper draws the foul)
13:33
Jeremy Fears Jr. misses two point jump shot
13:31
Jaxon Kohler offensive rebound
13:30
James Brown personal foul (Carson Cooper draws the foul)
13:19
Carson Cooper misses two point layup
13:17
Jonathan Powell defensive rebound
13:01
Jonathan Powell misses three point jump shot
12:59
Jaxon Kohler defensive rebound
12:35
Jaxon Kohler misses two point hook shot
12:33
Caleb Wilson defensive rebound
12:17
Caleb Wilson misses three point jump shot
12:15
Kur Teng defensive rebound
11:57
Jaxon Kohler misses three point jump shot
11:55
Jonathan Powell defensive rebound
11:49
Jaxon Kohler shooting foul (Caleb Wilson draws the foul)
11:49
TV timeout
11:49
+1
Caleb Wilson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
13-13
11:49
+1
Caleb Wilson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
14-13
11:36
Cam Ward misses two point jump shot
11:34
Kur Teng offensive rebound
11:31
+2
Kur Teng makes two point layup
14-15
11:19
+3
Jarin Stevenson makes three point jump shot (Luka Bogavac assists)
17-15
10:56
Jordan Scott misses two point jump shot
10:51
Spartans offensive rebound
10:44
Divine Ugochukwu turnover (traveling)
10:37
Jordan Scott personal foul (Jarin Stevenson draws the foul)
10:29
Henri Veesaar misses two point hook shot
10:27
Jonathan Powell offensive rebound
10:23
Luka Bogavac misses three point jump shot
10:21
Derek Dixon offensive rebound
10:10
Divine Ugochukwu blocks Jonathan Powell's two point layup
10:07
Tar Heels offensive rebound
10:00
Derek Dixon turnover (traveling)
9:45
Jaxon Kohler misses two point hook shot
9:43
Caleb Wilson defensive rebound
9:32
Caleb Wilson turnover (out of bounds)
9:24
Derek Dixon personal foul
9:09
Coen Carr misses two point jump shot
9:07
Jonathan Powell defensive rebound
8:49
Caleb Wilson misses two point jump shot
8:47
Spartans defensive rebound
8:32
Trey Fort misses two point layup
8:30
Henri Veesaar defensive rebound
8:23
+3
Jonathan Powell makes three point jump shot (Derek Dixon assists)
20-15
8:05
Trey Fort misses three point jump shot
8:03
Caleb Wilson defensive rebound
7:43
+2
Jarin Stevenson makes two point layup
22-15
7:41
Spartans 30 second timeout
7:41
TV timeout
7:15
Jaxon Kohler misses three point jump shot
7:13
Spartans offensive rebound
7:12
Henri Veesaar personal foul (Carson Cooper draws the foul)
6:57
+2
Jeremy Fears Jr. makes two point jump shot
22-17
6:37
Jonathan Powell misses three point jump shot
6:33
Tar Heels offensive rebound
6:25
Kyan Evans misses three point jump shot
6:23
Jaxon Kohler defensive rebound
6:16
+3
Jaxon Kohler makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
22-20
5:55
Caleb Wilson misses three point jump shot
5:53
Jaxon Kohler defensive rebound
5:39
Trey Fort misses two point jump shot
5:37
Caleb Wilson defensive rebound
5:11
Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot
5:09
Carson Cooper defensive rebound
4:41
+2
Carson Cooper makes two point dunk (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
22-22
4:41
James Brown shooting foul (Carson Cooper draws the foul)
4:41
+1
Carson Cooper makes regular free throw 1 of 1
22-23
4:25
Kyan Evans turnover (traveling)
4:14
Carson Cooper offensive foul (Derek Dixon draws the foul)
4:14
Carson Cooper turnover (offensive foul)
3:51
Kyan Evans misses three point jump shot
3:49
Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound
3:44
+3
Divine Ugochukwu makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
22-26
3:29
Cam Ward blocks Derek Dixon's two point layup
3:27
Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound
3:20
+2
Cam Ward makes two point layup (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
22-28
3:18
Tar Heels 30 second timeout
3:18
TV timeout
3:00
+3
Luka Bogavac makes three point jump shot
25-28
2:37
Caleb Wilson shooting foul (Cam Ward draws the foul)
2:37
Cam Ward misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:37
+1
Cam Ward makes regular free throw 2 of 2
25-29
2:24
Cam Ward personal foul (Jarin Stevenson draws the foul)
2:24
+1
Jarin Stevenson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-29
2:24
Jarin Stevenson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:24
Jonathan Powell offensive rebound
2:10
Luka Bogavac misses two point layup
2:08
Jaxon Kohler defensive rebound
2:02
Coen Carr misses two point layup
2:00
Cam Ward offensive rebound
2:00
Zayden High shooting foul (Cam Ward draws the foul)
2:00
+1
Cam Ward makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-30
2:00
+1
Cam Ward makes regular free throw 2 of 2
26-31
1:36
Kyan Evans misses three point jump shot
1:34
Jonathan Powell offensive rebound
1:22
+2
Zayden High makes two point layup (Luka Bogavac assists)
28-31
0:56
+2
Jeremy Fears Jr. makes two point jump shot
28-33
0:35
Jonathan Powell misses two point layup
0:33
Zayden High offensive rebound
0:28
Kyan Evans misses two point layup
0:28
Zayden High offensive rebound
0:28
Zayden High misses two point layup
0:26
Jaxon Kohler defensive rebound
0:03
Coen Carr misses two point layup
0:03
Coen Carr offensive rebound
0:03
Jeremy Fears Jr. turnover (traveling)
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
UNC
Tar Heels
30
MIST
Spartans
41
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:51
Jaxon Kohler personal foul (Henri Veesaar draws the foul)
19:39
Caleb Wilson misses two point jump shot
19:37
Jaxon Kohler defensive rebound
19:30
+2
Carson Cooper makes two point layup (Trey Fort assists)
28-35
19:30
Jarin Stevenson shooting foul (Carson Cooper draws the foul)
19:30
+1
Carson Cooper makes regular free throw 1 of 1
28-36
19:18
+2
Henri Veesaar makes two point dunk (Luka Bogavac assists)
30-36
18:55
Jaxon Kohler turnover (bad pass)
18:35
+3
Henri Veesaar makes three point jump shot
33-36
18:17
+2
Carson Cooper makes two point jump shot (Trey Fort assists)
33-38
18:05
+2
Henri Veesaar makes two point hook shot (Kyan Evans assists)
35-38
17:53
Carson Cooper turnover (lost ball) (Henri Veesaar steals)
17:42
Jarin Stevenson turnover (lost ball)
17:20
+2
Carson Cooper makes two point jump shot (Trey Fort assists)
35-40
17:04
Luka Bogavac misses three point jump shot
17:02
Henri Veesaar offensive rebound
17:00
Henri Veesaar turnover (Coen Carr steals)
16:55
Trey Fort misses two point layup
16:53
Spartans offensive rebound
16:32
Jeremy Fears Jr. misses two point jump shot
16:30
Henri Veesaar defensive rebound
16:05
Luka Bogavac misses three point jump shot
16:03
Carson Cooper defensive rebound
15:58
Kur Teng misses three point jump shot
15:56
Henri Veesaar defensive rebound
15:53
TV timeout
15:42
+2
Henri Veesaar makes two point dunk (Caleb Wilson assists)
37-40
15:15
Cam Ward misses two point layup
15:13
Jaxon Kohler offensive rebound
15:07
+2
Jaxon Kohler makes two point layup
37-42
15:03
Cam Ward personal foul (Caleb Wilson draws the foul)
14:57
Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot
14:55
Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound
14:45
+2
Cam Ward makes two point layup (Jaxon Kohler assists)
37-44
14:22
+2
Luka Bogavac makes two point layup
39-44
14:14
+2
Kur Teng makes two point jump shot
39-46
14:03
Coen Carr shooting foul (Jarin Stevenson draws the foul)
14:03
Jarin Stevenson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:03
+1
Jarin Stevenson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
40-46
13:56
+2
Jeremy Fears Jr. makes two point layup
40-48
13:48
+2
Luka Bogavac makes two point layup (Kyan Evans assists)
42-48
13:16
Jordan Scott misses two point jump shot
13:14
Kyan Evans defensive rebound
13:11
Divine Ugochukwu shooting foul (Kyan Evans draws the foul)
13:11
+1
Kyan Evans makes regular free throw 1 of 2
43-48
13:11
+1
Kyan Evans makes regular free throw 2 of 2
44-48
12:46
Carson Cooper misses two point dunk
12:44
Jonathan Powell defensive rebound
12:38
Kyan Evans misses three point jump shot
12:36
Carson Cooper defensive rebound
12:25
+2
Kur Teng makes two point jump shot
44-50
12:05
James Brown turnover (traveling)
11:54
+3
Jaxon Kohler makes three point jump shot (Kur Teng assists)
44-53
11:39
Jaxon Kohler blocks Caleb Wilson's two point layup
11:37
Caleb Wilson offensive rebound
11:32
+2
Caleb Wilson makes two point layup
46-53
11:08
Divine Ugochukwu misses two point jump shot
11:06
James Brown defensive rebound
10:53
Caleb Wilson misses two point layup
10:51
Jaxon Kohler defensive rebound
10:43
Divine Ugochukwu turnover (bad pass)
10:43
TV timeout
10:25
+2
Henri Veesaar makes two point hook shot
48-53
9:56
Carson Cooper misses two point hook shot
9:54
Luka Bogavac defensive rebound
9:35
Coen Carr shooting foul (Luka Bogavac draws the foul)
9:35
Luka Bogavac misses regular free throw 1 of 3
9:35
+1
Luka Bogavac makes regular free throw 2 of 3
49-53
9:35
+1
Luka Bogavac makes regular free throw 3 of 3
50-53
9:24
+2
Jeremy Fears Jr. makes two point jump shot
50-55
9:02
Henri Veesaar misses three point jump shot
8:56
Tar Heels offensive rebound
8:44
+2
Kyan Evans makes two point layup
52-55
8:25
Jeremy Fears Jr. turnover (Jarin Stevenson steals)
8:02
Luka Bogavac misses two point jump shot
8:00
Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound
7:49
Jarin Stevenson personal foul
7:49
TV timeout
7:38
+2
Cam Ward makes two point layup
52-57
7:12
Kyan Evans misses three point jump shot
7:10
Coen Carr defensive rebound
6:49
+3
Jeremy Fears Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jaxon Kohler assists)
52-60
6:49
Kyan Evans shooting foul (Jeremy Fears Jr. draws the foul)
6:49
Jeremy Fears Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:49
Caleb Wilson defensive rebound
6:37
Kyan Evans turnover (Trey Fort steals)
6:33
+2
Cam Ward makes two point layup (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
52-62
6:20
Coen Carr personal foul (Luka Bogavac draws the foul)
6:12
Luka Bogavac misses three point jump shot
6:10
Cam Ward defensive rebound
5:44
Jonathan Powell personal foul (Trey Fort draws the foul)
5:24
+2
Carson Cooper makes two point jump shot (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
52-64
5:17
Tar Heels 30 second timeout
5:17
TV timeout
5:00
+2
Caleb Wilson makes two point dunk
54-64
4:26
+2
Jeremy Fears Jr. makes two point jump shot
54-66
4:16
+2
Caleb Wilson makes two point jump shot
56-66
3:50
Jonathan Powell blocks Trey Fort's two point jump shot
3:48
Henri Veesaar defensive rebound
3:28
Derek Dixon misses three point jump shot
3:26
Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound
3:05
Carson Cooper misses two point jump shot
3:03
Coen Carr offensive rebound
2:59
+2
Coen Carr makes two point dunk
56-68
2:46
Carson Cooper personal foul (Caleb Wilson draws the foul)
2:46
TV timeout
2:46
Caleb Wilson misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:46
Henri Veesaar offensive rebound
2:45
Coen Carr personal foul (Henri Veesaar draws the foul)
2:45
Henri Veesaar misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:45
Coen Carr defensive rebound
2:40
Henri Veesaar personal foul (Coen Carr draws the foul)
2:14
Luka Bogavac shooting foul (Jeremy Fears Jr. draws the foul)
2:14
+1
Jeremy Fears Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
56-69
2:14
+1
Jeremy Fears Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-70
2:03
Luka Bogavac misses three point jump shot
2:01
Carson Cooper defensive rebound
1:38
Carson Cooper turnover (lost ball) (Caleb Wilson steals)
1:37
Caleb Wilson turnover (out of bounds)
1:20
Henri Veesaar blocks Coen Carr's two point layup
1:18
Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound
1:13
Jeremy Fears Jr. personal foul (Caleb Wilson draws the foul)
