By: AP
PORTLAND, Ore. – Joshua Lanford made five 3-pointers and scored 23 points and No. 4 Michigan State beat No. 9 North Carolina, 63-45, on Sunday night to win the “Victory Bracket” of the PK80 Invitational.
Tom Izzo got the best of Roy Williams for the first time since Williams arrived in Chapel Hill, thanks to a dominating performance at the defensive end by the Spartans. Michigan State bullied the Tar Heels on the interior at both at both ends of the floor and got just enough offense.
The Tar Heels shot just 24.6 percent, the worst-shooting game in North Carolina history. North Carolina was 1 of 18 on 3-point attempts, also the worst in school history.
Williams had won all seven previous matchup between the Tar Heels and Izzo’s Spartans.
Langford was key in the first half as the Spartans (5-1) built a 13-point halftime lead despite Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. being limited with foul trouble. Langford had 14 points in the first half as Michigan State used an 11-4 run to take control and were never threatened by the Tar Heels.
Miles Bridges finished with 11 points Theo Pinson led North Carolina (5-1) with 16 points.
KENTUCKY 107, ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 73
In Lexington, Kevin Knox scored a career-high 25 points to lead Kentucky past Illinois-Chicago to conclude play in the Adolph Rupp Classic.
Kentucky coach John Calipari reach 700 career victories, three years after he notched his 600th. He is the 39th coach to reach the milestone.
Hamidou Diallo had a career-best 19 points, PJ Washington added 17 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 14 for the Wildcats (6-1). Godwin Boahen led the Flames (2-3) with 17 points, and Tai Odiase had 15.