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