Tar Heels Face Rams in Exhibition Game at Smith Center

Chapel Hill, NC — The University of North Carolina‘s men’s basketball team is set to play Winston-Salem State in an exhibition game on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET. This matchup will take place at the Smith Center as part of their preseason schedule.

Fifth-year head coach Hubert Davis leads a roster that features 11 new players, including five transfers. Notable additions include Jonathan Powell from West Virginia and Henri Veesaar from Arizona. Senior guard Seth Trimble is expected to play a key role this season, especially as the Tar Heels have been picked to finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) behind Louisville and reigning champion Duke.

In their previous exhibition game against BYU, UNC showcased strong performances. Freshman Caleb Wilson stood out with a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Trimble added 17 points, while Veesaar contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. Coach Davis emphasized the importance of these games to build team chemistry ahead of the regular season.

Winston-Salem State, now in its second season under coach Corey Thompson, enters the game with a roster that includes 11 players from North Carolina. Returning star Tyre Boykin leads the Rams as their top scorer from last season.

Historically, UNC has dominated the series against Winston-Salem State, winning both previous encounters in 2019 and 2004 by significant margins. As part of the game preparation, senior Luka Bogavac remains sidelined due to eligibility issues despite being cleared by the NCAA.

Fans can watch the game online via ESPN, while live updates will be available throughout the match.