Michigan State Beats North Carolina, 74-58

The MSU offense started strong with a three from Trey Fort followed by a Coen Carr dunk for a 5-0 lead. UNC then went on an 8-2 run to go up a point. Coen Carr responded with his 2nd dunk to put MSU up 9-8 at the first TV timeout.

The two teams traded buckets for a few possessions, with Carr and Cooper scoring for MSU, but then the lid closed on the rims. At the under-12 commercial, MSU still had a 1-point lead, 13-12.

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The next segment of the game was possibly the worst basketball I’ve ever seen. Missed layups and turnovers and fouls. Carolina had a little run that forced MSU to call a timeout for what would be the under-8. The Spartans now found themselves down 22-15.

The Spartans had a response. Jeremy Fears hit a jumper after an MSU offensive rebound, Jaxon Kohler hit a three, and then Fears found Cooper for the Alley-Coop to tie the game… plus Cooper got the foul and made the and-1 (after a lane violation was called on a missed FT) for a 23-22 MSU lead. Divine Ugochugwu hit a corner-3 in transition and then Cam Ward scored in the low post, forcing a Tar Heel timeout. That’s a 13-0 run between commercials. MSU up 28-22.

UNC opened up the final segment of the 1st half by hitting a three to split the MSU lead. Cam Ward was fouled on a dunk attempt, but only managed to split the free throws. A couple possessions later, Ward found himself at the line again after getting an offensive rebound, and this time he drained them both. MSU rushed their final possession. Coen Carr missed a layup but got his own miss, and then Fears was called for a travel trying to drive the lane. At the break, MSU had a 33-28 lead. 8 Spartans scored in the first half, but no one had more than Carr’s 6.

UNC started the 2nd half, but Cooper defended the shooter well to cause a miss. On the other end, Cooper got the ball down low, scored, and picked up the and-1. Some trading of ugly possessions and scoring, and MSU still had a five-point lead 40-35 with 16 to go.

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