North Carolina Takes On Michigan State In The Phil Knight Invitational Championship
North Carolina out of the Atlantic Coast Conference will take on Michigan State who is out of the Big Ten in the Phil Knight Invitational Championship.
The Tar Heels are 5-0 this year, including 2-0 at the PK80 Invitational.
• Ninth-ranked Carolina plays fourth-ranked Michigan State in the championship game of the "Victory" bracket in the PK80 Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 26th, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern (ESPN).
• The Tar Heels advanced to the finals of PK80 with a 102-78 win over Portland and an 87-68 win over Arkansas.
• Following Sunday's game, UNC returns to Chapel Hill. The next game is Nov. 29th at home against Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. That game begins a three-game in five-day stretch in which UNC also plays at Davidson (Dec. 1) and hosts Tulane (Dec. 3).
• This is the second consecutive year the Tar Heels will play back-to-back games against Big Ten opponents and the circumstances are similar. Last year, Carolina defeated Wisconsin in the finals of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, then lost at Indiana in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
• The Tar Heels are 8-0 all-time in Portland and 8-0 in the state of Oregon.
• Carolina went 3-0 and won the Far West Classic in both 1967-68 and 1976-77.
• Carolina has won six regular-season tournaments under head coach Roy Williams (Maui in 2004-05, 2008-09, 2016-17; the CBE Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, Mo., in 2015-16; the Hall of Fame Tipoff in Uncasville, Conn., in 2014-15; and the Las Vegas Invitational in 2007-08. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
CAROLINA-MICHIGAN STATE SERIES
• The Tar Heels are 12-3 against Michigan State, including 7-0 under head coach Roy Williams
• This is the first meeting since 12/4/13 when the unranked Tar Heels, coming off a loss at UAB, toppled the No. 1 ranked Spartans in East Lansing in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
• This is the sixth time UNC and Michigan State have played when both teams are ranked in the top 10. UNC is 2-3 in those games with wins in the last two.
• The schools have met three times in the Final Four, once in the national championship game, two other times in the NCAA Tournament, five times in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, once in Maui, once in the Dixie Classic in Raleigh and one time on an aircraft carrier in San Diego.
• Roy Williams is 7-1 all-time against the Spartans (0-1 while at Kansas). "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
GAME FIVE – UNC 87, ARKANSAS 68
• Junior forward Luke Maye had career highs in points (28), three-pointers (4), rebounds (16) and assists (five). He is the first Tar Heel to lead the team in points, rebounds and assists since Reggie Bullock (15/9/4) against Maryland in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., on 3/6/2013.
• Carolina led 74-58 (+16) with 6:44 to play. Arkansas went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to six with 3:32 to play. From that point, the Tar Heels closed the game on a 13-0 run to win by 19. Joel Berry II two free throws upped the lead to eight and was followed by a Theo Pinson drive and dunk (10), a steal by Berry and layup by Kenny Williams (12), a three by Luke Maye (15), a layup by Williams (17) and free throws by Sterling Manley (19).
• Carolina's defense held the Razorbacks without a point on its last nine possessions (seven field goal attempts and two turnovers).
• Last year, in the NCAA Tournament second round, the Razorbacks led the Tar Heels by five with 2:57 to play, but UNC ended the game on a 12-0 run to win, 72-65. Arkansas was 0-4 from the floor, 0-2 from the line and had a turnover in its last seven possessions.
• Carolina shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half for the third game in a row.
• Carolina blocked seven shots. It also blocked seven shots against Bucknell on Nov. 15.
• Arkansas forced five more turnovers than Carolina (UNC committed 14, the Razorbacks turned it over nine times), but the teams both scored 15 points off turnovers and Carolina had an 8-2 advantage in fastbreak points.
• Carolina matched its season-high in turnovers with 14, but the UNC point guards committed none of the turnovers (Berry, Jalek Felton and Seventh Woods combined to play 46 minutes with six assists and no turnovers).
• The Tar Heels made eight of 16 three-pointers. Dating back to the first half of Thursday's game against Portland, the Tar Heels have converted 17 of 31 from three-point range (.548).
• Carolina shot 81 percent from the free throw line (17 of 21), the second time in five games it has shot 80 percent or better.
• Carolina held Arkansas to 32.3 percent shooting from the floor in the first half (10 of 31). The Razorbacks had a points per possession of .68 in the first half, the lowest by a UNC opponent in a half this season (26 points on 38 possessions).
• Carolina missed its first eight field goal attempts and committed three turnovers before Garrison Brooks made UNC's first field goal with 14:43 to play in the first half. That cut Arkansas' lead to 8-4.
• The Razorbacks led 10-4 with 13:00 to play in the first half. UNC then went on a 13-0 run over the next three minutes and 10 seconds to take a 17-10 lead. Four different Tar Heels (Sterling Manley Kenny Williams , Joel Berry II and Luke Maye ) scored during that run.
• Carolina out-rebounded UA, 46-30. The Razorbacks entered the game out-rebounding their opponents by 4.5 per game. Three Tar Heels (Luke Maye 16, Kenny Williams 8 and Brandon Robinson 6) established career highs in rebounds.
• Maye was 11 for 16 from the floor, including 4 for 5 from three. He was also 11 for 16 from the floor in the season opener vs. Northern Iowa. His previous high in three-pointers was three against Bucknell.
• Maye topped his previous scoring high of 26 against UNI. His previous rebounding high was 15 last year vs. Florida State. He matched his career high in assists (five against Stanford.
• Maye had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the first half. He is the first Tar Heel with a double-double in a half since Kennedy Meeks against Wisconsin in Maui on 11/23/16.
• Maye became the first Tar Heel to lead in scoring, rebounds and assists since Reggie Bullock vs. Maryland in the 2013 ACC Tournament and the first to have 20+ points, 10+ rebounds and five assists since Bullock against Florida State on 3/3/13.
• Junior guard Kenny Williams scored 19 points. He has compiled three of his four highest scoring games in the three games on this west coast road trip. He had 20 at Stanford, 19 vs. Arkansas and 17 vs. Portland. He had 19 against Radford on 12/4/16.
• Williams was 7 for 12 from the floor for the second game in a row. He is 21 for 35 from the floor, including 10 for 16 from three-point range, on the road trip.
• Maye and Williams have scored in double figures in all five games this season.
• Williams grabbed a career-high eight rebounds, all on the defensive glass. His previous high was 7 vs. Monmouth.
• Williams played a career-high 35 minutes. His previous high was 34 vs. Kentucky in Las Vegas last year.
• Brandon Robinson came off the bench for five points, a career-high six rebounds and no turnovers in 15 minutes.
• Theo Pinson matched his career high with three blocked shots (also against Kansas State as a sophomore). "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
GAME FOUR – UNC 102, PORTLAND 78
• UNC scored a season-high 102 points.
• Carolina made one of its first nine three-point attempts, then sank nine of its next 15 three-point attempts to finish 10 for 24.
• The Tar Heels are 192-5 under Roy Williams when they shoot 50 percent or better from the floor.
• Carolina shot 55.3 percent from the floor in the second half (21 of 38). That was the highest percentage in a half this year.
• Carolina made its first nine field goal attempts over the first five minutes to begin the second half. All five starters made at least one field goal and the Tar Heels out-scored the Pilots, 20-8, during that run.
• Carolina improved to 56-2 under Roy Williams when the Tar Heels score 100 points.
• Five Tar Heels scored in double figures for the second time this season (also Bucknell).
• Carolina scored a season-high 17 fastbreak points.
• Luke Maye led Carolina with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
• Theo Pinson had 11 points, a season-high nine rebounds and a season-high seven assists.
• Joel Berry II made four three-pointers.
• Kenny Williams played a nearly-flawless game with 17 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the floor and added three offensive rebounds, three assists, no turnovers and three steals.
• Freshman Andrew Platek made a season-high two three-pointers and scored a season-best 12 points. It was his first time in double figures as a Tar Heel. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
LUKE MAYE OFF TO HOT START
• Junior forward Luke Maye leads Carolina in scoring (21.2), rebounding (10.8), field goals made and attempted (43 for 74), blocks (4) and minutes (31.4).
• Maye leads the ACC in rebounding and is second in scoring.
• Maye has scored 20 or more points in four of Carolina's first five games and has three double-doubles (scoring high was 17 and had two double-doubles in his first two seasons combined).
• Maye is the first Tar Heel to score 100 points (106) and grab 50 rebounds (54) in the first five games since Antawn Jamison had 103 points and 55 rebounds in 1996-97.
• Maye's 106 points are the most by a Tar Heel in the first five games since Marcus Paige scored 112 in 2013-14.
• Maye's 54 rebounds are the most by a Tar Heel in the first five games since John Henson had 59 in 2010-11. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
FIELD GOAL SHOOTING
• Carolina is shooting 49.4 percent from the floor.
• The Tar Heels have shot 50 percent from the floor in three games and shot 49.2 percent in their last game against Arkansas.
• UNC has shot 52.8, 55.3 and 50.0 percent from the floor in the second half in its last three games (Stanford, Portland and Arkansas).
• Three starters are shooting better than 50 percent from the floor – Luke Maye (.581), Kenny Williams (.560) and Garrison Brooks (.560). Sterling Manley is shooting 60.9 percent off the bench. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
REBOUNDS
• Carolina led the nation in rebounding, offensive rebounds and rebound margin in 2016-17. UNC averaged 43.2 rebounds and 15.8 offensive boards and out-boarded its opponents by 12.3 per game.
• This year, through five games, UNC is averaging 44.6 rebounds and 12.4 offensive rebounds and has a margin of 14.2 per contest.
• Luke Maye leads UNC with 10.8 per game. He has grabbed nine or more in all five games, double figures three times with a career-high 16 against Arkansas. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
FINAL FOUR MOP JOEL BERRY II
• Senior point guard Joel BerryII broke a bone in his right hand in mid-October and did not play in the season opener a gainst UNI. He returned to practice on Nov. 12 and played 30 minutes in the win over Bucknell on Nov. 15.
• Berry made five three-pointers and scored 29 points (his second-highest career output) in the win at Stanford on Nov. 20.
• Berry passed Ademola Okulaja, Bobby Jones and Ed Cota in career scoring in the Arkansas game with 1,264 points. He is tied with Bobby Jones for 49th place in UNC history. Vince Carter is 48th with 1,267.
• He has 183 career threes, tied with Melvin Scott for the 11th most in UNC history. Danny Green is 10th with 184.
• Berry was the Most Outstanding Player at the 2017 Final Four and the Most Valuable Player at the 2016 ACC Tournament. James Worthy and Berry are the only Tar Heels to win both of those awards.
• Berry is a preseason first-team All-America by ESPN.com, second-team All-America by USA Today and Sporting News' third team selection.
• Berry is on the preseason watch list for the John R. Wooden Award, the Oscar Robertson Award (USBWA Player of the Year) and the Naismith Award (all for National Player of the Year) and the Bob Cousy Award (best point guard).
• The Apopka, Fla., native also was a preseason first-team All-ACC selection and received the second-most votes for preseason player of the year (tied with Duke's Grayson Allen behind Notre Dame's Bonzie Colson).
• Berry has 1,264 points, 350 assists, 127 steals and 183 three-point field goals in 112 career games.
• Berry has scored 836 more points than any Tar Heel on the roster ( Theo Pinson ) is second with 428).
• He is the only Tar Heel in history to earn All-Final Four honors twice (2016 and 2017).
• He became the seventh player overall and the first since UCLA's Bill Walton in 1972-73 to score at least 20 points in consecutive national championship games. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
RANKED NO. 9
• Carolina is No. 9 in the Nov. 20 Associated Press and USA Today/coaches polls.
• Carolina is ranked in the AP poll for the 880th time, most in college basketball history, and the 663nd time in the top 10, second-most behind Kentucky.
• This marks the 55th season (out of 70) the Tar Heels have been ranked in the top 10.
• Carolina was ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP poll. This was the 12th time in Roy Williams ' 15 seasons as head coach the Tar Heels entered the year ranked in the top 10. UNC has finished the year in the AP top 10 nine times in Williams' first 14 seasons. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
ROY WILLIAMS ERA TRENDS
Roy Williams is in his 15th season as Carolina's head coach. Here are a number of stat trends from his tenure at his alma mater. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
Carolina is...
• 202-27 at home (includes one home win at Carmichael Arena and one "home" win at the Greensboro Coliseum)
• 332-38 when leading at the half
• 192-5 when shooting 50 percent from the floor
• 34-53 when shooting under 40 percent
• 191-17 when holding the opponents under 40 percent shooting from the floor
• 339-54 when out-rebounding the opponent
• 53-55 when the opponents have more rebounds
• 247-51 when the opponents have more turnovers
• 267-30 when scoring 80 or more points
• 132-4 when scoring 90 or more points
• 56-2 when scoring 100 or more points
• 349-57 when the opponents score under 80 points "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
JOHNSON OUT
• Cameron Johnson will miss four to six weeks after undergoing surgery on Nov. 15 to repair a torn meniscus.
• Johnson suffered the injury in practice on Nov. 13. He did not play in the season opener against Northern Iowa after spraining his neck in practice on 11/7.
• He led UNC with 18 points in 16 minutes in the "jamboree" vs. ECU, UNCG and UNCW on Nov. 5 and had 11 in the exhibition against Barton on Oct. 27.
• Johnson averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last year as a Pitt Panther. He shot 44.7 percent from three-point range.
• Johnson matched his career high with 24 points against the Tar Heels in the Smith Center on 1/31/17. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
CAROLINA ON THE ALL-TIME WINS LISTS
• Carolina is second all-time in NCAA winning percentage and third in wins.
• Carolina has won 2,211 games, third behind Kentucky and Kansas. Only four schools have won at least 2,000 games.
• Carolina's winning percentage of .739 is second behind Kentucky. Only five schools have a winning percentage of at least .700.
• Carolina is first in Final Fours with 20.
• Carolina is second in NCAA Tournament appearances with 48.
• Carolina is third in NCAA championships with six.
• Carolina is second in NCAA Tournament games with 168.
• Carolina is second in NCAA Tournament winning percentage at .732.
• Carolina is first in ACC regular-season championships with 31.
• Carolina is first in ACC victories with 672.
• Carolina is second in ACC Tournament wins with 97.
• Carolina is second in ACC Tournament winning percentage at .683.
• Carolina is first in ACC Tournament championship game appearances with 34 and second in titles with 18.
• Carolina is first in NBA first-round draft picks with 49 and third in overall NBA draft picks with 112. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
TAR HEELS SIGN THREE FOR 2018-19
• Rechon Black (RAY-shon)
Hometown: Concord, N.C.
High School: Cox Mill (Concord) "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
• Nassir Little (nuh-SEER)
Hometown: Orange Park, Fla.
High School: Orlando (Fla.) Christian Prep "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
• Coby White
Hometown: Goldsboro, N.C.
High School: Greenfield School (Wilson, N.C.) "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/25/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-michigan-state-sunday-night-in-pk80.aspx
As for North Carolina's last game and how they got to the championship game they beat Arkansas.
Roy Williams was able to find the one flaw in Luke Maye's otherwise nearly spotless performance. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
Oh, those turnovers. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
"The young man is really, really intelligent and he's finally starting to play basketball with his brain involved too," the North Carolina coach said. "Except for his turnovers." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
Maye, who committed five turnovers, had career-highs with 28 points and 16 rebounds, Kenny Williams had 16 of his 19 points in the second half, and No. 9 North Carolina slowed down high-scoring Arkansas beating the Razorbacks 87-68 on Friday in the semifinals of the PK80 Invitational. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
The Tar Heels were smothering on the defensive end, holding the Razorbacks under 80 points for the first time this season. The Razorbacks shot just 32 percent in the first half and were dominated on the boards getting outrebounded 46-30. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
Maye carried the Tar Heels offensively for the first 25 minutes before Williams and Joel Berry !!got going. Maye made 11 of 16 shots and 11 of his rebounds came at the defensive end. Berry was just 3-of-12 shooting, but he made 7 of 8 free throws. Williams took just three shots in the first half, but was 6-of-9 shooting in the second half. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
It all added up to another impressive performance by North Carolina and specifically Maye. The Tar Heels (5-0) will face either Michigan State or UConn in the "Victory Bracket" championship game on Sunday night. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
"We have so many guys that can score," Maye said. "Theo (Pinson) and Kenny and Joel are all capable of hitting shots, getting to the basket. It's really tough to guard all four of us at the same time." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
Jaylen Barford led Arkansas (4-1) with 21 points and C.J. Jones added 12 off the bench. Daniel Gafford, who was averaging nearly 16 points per game, was hampered by foul trouble and finished with just five points. The Razorbacks also lost second-leading scorer Daryl Macon to a leg injury midway through the second half. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
"We came out and wanted to punch them and they punched back," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. "I thought their defense was really good. They did a good job of guarding us and we got some guys in foul trouble and I thought that limited us." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
North Carolina used two first-half runs to take control. Down early, the Tar Heels rattled off 13 straight points to take the lead for good. They followed with a 14-4 run to close the first half and led 37-26 at the break. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
Arkansas had a couple of second-half rallies that fell short. The first came after Macon had to be helped off the court due to his leg injury suffered on a baseline drive. Barford scored five straight points and layups from Dustin Thomas and Gafford pulled the Razorbacks within 55-48 with 13:01 left. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
Maye tipped in a miss and the Tar Heels scored nine of the next 13 points to build the lead back to 14 on Pinson's layup with 9:20 remaining. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
The lead remained there until consecutive 3s by Jones. Maye missed in the lane and a three-point play by Barford pulled the Razorbacks within 74-68 with 3:32 remaining. It was the final points for Arkansas. Berry hit two free throws and an offensive foul on Arkansas led to Pinson's thundering one-handed dunk and a 10-point lead with less than 3 minutes left. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
EXTRA TIME
Aside from giving Maye a hard time about his turnovers, Williams did not like how much his core group had to play to finally put away the Razorbacks. Maye, Williams, Berry and Pinson all played at least 33 minutes. The Tar Heels do have a rest day before the championship game. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
THE TAKEAWAY
Arkansas: Macon was already struggling from the field before getting injured. Macon was 1 of 9 in the first half and 2-of-11 overall. He was 7-of-13 shooting with six 3-pointers in the opening round win over Oklahoma.
North Carolina: Maye's previous career-high in points was 26 against Northern Iowa in the season opener and his previous high in rebounds was 15 against Florida State last season. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-maye-leads-tar-heels-past-arkansas-in-pk80.aspx?path=mbball
As for how Michigan State got to this point they beat Connecticut who is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
Michigan State sophomore guard Cassius Winston scored 23 of his career-high 28 points in the second half and the fourth-ranked Spartans used a big second half to pull away from UConn for a 77-57 in the semifinals of the PK80 Invitational on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
The Spartans improved to 4-1 overall with the win, while the Huskies fall to 4-1. MSU advances to Sunday's Championship game of the Victory Bracket and will meet North Carolina. "according tohttp://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
Freshman forward Jaren Jackson Jr scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds for his second-straight double-double - and third of the season - while sophomore forward Nick Ward added 11 points and nine rebounds. "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
Michigan State shot 48.5 percent from the floor (32-of-66), including a blistering 69.0 percent in the second half (20-of-29). "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
During a key stretch in the second half, Winston scored 12 of Michigan State's 16 points as the Spartans took a 71-53 lead with 2:56 left in the game. "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
He hit 12-of-15 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, establishing career best in field goals made and attempted and 3-point field goals made and attempted. Winston scored 18 of MSU's final 26 points over the last 8:23. He also assisted on two other baskets, having a direct hand in 22 of MSU's final 26 points. "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
Leading by one point at the break (28-27), the Spartans opened up a double-digit lead by outscoring the Huskies 15-6 over the opening 4:07 of the second half and taking a 43-33 lead on a 3-pointer from Winston. "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
UConn would pull to within 45-40 on a 3-pointer from Terry Larrier and the lead was again five points, 47-42, when junior guard Matt McQuaid hit a 3-pointer that triggered a 20-11 run as the Spartans took a 67-53 advantage on a Winston layup with 4:53 left to play. "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
The Spartans had gone into the half with a 28-27 lead, with a tip-in from Ward with 1:12 giving MSU a three-point lead before free throws from Josh Carlton closed it to one. "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
Both teams struggled from the field in the early minutes and UConn took a pair of early six-point leads, the latter at 18-12 on a 3-pointer from Jalen Adams. MSU caught fire and used a 14-3 run over 3:58 and took a 26-21 lead on a layup from Ward with 5:12 to play. "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
The PK80 - the Phil Knight Invitational - is a two-tournament men's college basketball event held in Portland, Ore., honoring Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight for his 80th Birthday and in recognition of his significant contributions to collegiate basketball. "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112517aaa.html
Tip-off is set for 8:30pm. The game will be televised on ESPN. "according to http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/msu-m-baskbl-sched.html