Emerging star Ian Jackson was all smiles in looking ahead to his first UNC basketball clash against the Wolfpack.

In SMU’s first basketball visit to Chapel Hill as an ACC member, the Mustangs arrived leading their new conference in scoring and 3-point shooting, but UNC had plenty to say about that Tuesday.

Powell hit three triples in four minutes to fuel a 10-point lead in what became a 17-point performance for the rookie. With seven minutes remaining in the first half, forwards Ven-Allen Lubin and Jae'Lyn Withers double-teamed SMU's Samet Yiğitoğlu to force the turnover. On the fast break, Cadeau laid it in. The Mustangs called a timeout.

After opening the 2025 calendar year with a loss to Louisville last week, North Carolina needed to find a way to get wins o