Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Not one person inside the Jack Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing, Michigan thought the Spartans were going home with their first loss of the season tonight. But down went the defending national champions, as UNC defeated Michigan State 79-65 on their home court. It’s another impressive win, for an up and down North Carolina team that has taken losses to UAB and Belmont this season.
The Tar Heels were up for most of the game and were led by efforts from Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson, who had 15 and 14 points, respectively. Adreian Payne was the only player who showed out for the Spartans, scoring 16 points on one of their scoring runs, after Keith Appling took a hard land in the middle of the first half. Appling went to the locker room to treat his right hip, but did return.
It was all North Carolina from every department in the second half, especially as they controlled the physical game in the paint, dominating on the boards and outrebounding Michigan State 44-28. J.P. Tokoto took home a career-high 10 rebounds.
UNC’s win tonight was their first over a No. 1 opponent since March 4, 2006, and gives them 13 wins over top-ranked teams in the history of the program.