Maui Invitational Archives

Michigan State holds off No. 12 North Carolina 94-91 in overtime for 3rd at Maui Invitational

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Tre Holloman and Xavier Booker combined for eight points in overtime and Michigan State held off No. 12 North Carolina 94-91 for third place in the Maui Invitational. Holloman made his first start of the season and led six scorers in double figures with a career-best 19 points for the Spartans. Jaden Akins and Coen Carr scored 14 points apiece, Jeremy Fears Jr. and Frankie Fidler had 13 each and Booker had 12. Drake Powell scored 18 points and Elliot Cadeau had 17 for the Tar Heels. North Carolina’s Seth Trimble sent the game into overtime with a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left in regulation.… Continue Reading

Broome has 23 points and 19 rebounds as No. 4 Auburn tops No. 12 UNC 85-72 to reach Maui title game

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Johni Broome had 23 points and 19 rebounds to lead No. 4 Auburn to an 85-72 victory over No. 12 North Carolina in a Maui Invitational semifinal. Miles Kelly added 15 points and Chad Baker-Mazara scored 14 for the unbeaten Tigers, who never trailed and led by as many as 19. They will play Memphis for the tournament championship on Wednesday. Broome scored 18 points in the first half and finished 9 of 18 from the field. He also had five assists and three blocks. Chaney Johnson had 11 points and eight rebounds for Auburn. Seth Trimble led the Tar Heels with 17 points. RJ Davis, the reigning ACC player of the year, was held to a season-low 12 on 5-of-11 shooting.… Continue Reading

RJ Davis scores 30 as No. 12 Tar Heels erase 21-point deficit to beat Dayton 92-90

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — RJ Davis scored 30 points, Seth Trimble added 27, and No. 12 North Carolina come back from a 21-point deficit for a 92-90 win over Dayton in the Maui Invitational. The Tar Heels outscored the Flyers 59-39 in the second half and took the lead for good at 88-87 on Drake Powell’s 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:13 remaining. Davis scored 20 points after halftime, including four 3-pointers. Nate Santos scored 15 points to lead Dayton, which led 51-33 at halftime. North Carolina was 27 of 34 from the free-throw line. Dayton was 12 of 15.… Continue Reading

From Maui to the Caribbean, college hoops’ Thanksgiving tournaments a beloved part of the sport

College basketball is ready for its Thanksgiving Week closeup. The schedule is full of early season tournaments that could create buzzworthy marquee matchups. And many of those come in warm-weather locations. The Maui Invitational in Hawaii turns 40 years old this year. It opens Monday with a field that includes two-time reigning national champion and second ranked UConn. The Battle 4 Atlantis men’s tournament in the Bahamas opens Wednesday. It has a field topped by No. 3 Gonzaga. There are also multiple women’s events in the Bahamas featuring ranked teams, including the fourth Atlantis women’s tournament.… Continue Reading

Maui Invitational returns to a Lahaina still grappling with raw emotions left by deadly wildfire

HONOLULU (AP) — Residents of the Hawaii town devastated by last year’s wildfire are awaiting the return of one of the nation’s most prestigious basketball tournaments with mixed feelings. Fans are excited about the Maui Invitational bringing high-caliber competition to Lahaina. And they welcome the economic boost Lahaina will get from the thousands of travelers eating in restaurants and staying in hotels. But there’s also a fear that travelers might show disrespect by wandering into the burn zone and taking photos of the devastation. And there is worry tourists might trigger unpleasant memories with questions about that catastrophic day. Residents say feelings are still raw.… Continue Reading