Michigan State triumphed over No. 12 North Carolina with a close score of 94-91 in overtime during the Maui Invitational on Wednesday night, securing third place in the tournament.
Tre Holloman, making his first start of the season, emerged as a standout player for the Spartans (6-2), achieving a career-high of 19 points. He was particularly impressive in the first half, shooting a perfect 6-for-6, which included four successful three-pointers.
Alongside Holloman, Jaden Akins and Coen Carr contributed 14 points each, while Jeremy Fears Jr. and Frankie Fidler added 13 points each. Xavier Booker rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points.
The Tar Heels (4-3) were led by Drake Powell, who scored 18 points, followed closely by Elliot Cadeau with 17 points and RJ Davis with 16 points. North Carolina’s Seth Trimble played a pivotal role in sending the game into overtime with a crucial three-pointer just 5.2 seconds before the end of regulation.
Takeaways
For Michigan State, the absence of freshman guard Jase Richardson was notable; he had scored 18 points in the semifinals against Memphis but was sidelined after taking an elbow to the head in that game.
North Carolina’s struggles were evident as they faced double-digit deficits at halftime in all three games during the Maui Invitational. The 94 points allowed by the Tar Heels marked the highest total they have conceded this season.
Key moment
The turning point came when North Carolina briefly took an 87-86 lead after Cadeau’s free throws. However, Booker responded with a powerful dunk, assisted by Holloman, reclaiming the lead for Michigan State with just 2:03 remaining in overtime.
Key stat
Michigan State showcased their offensive strength, shooting 54% from the field and converting 24 of 31 attempts from the free-throw line. They dominated the paint, scoring 50 points compared to North Carolina’s 30.
Up next
Looking ahead, both teams will return to action on Wednesday. Michigan State is set to begin Big Ten play against Minnesota, while North Carolina will host the ninth-ranked Alabama.
