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

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

UNC says football coach Mack Brown won’t return for 2025 season

UNC says football coach Mack Brown won’t return for 2025 season

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina coach Mack Brown won’t return for the 2025 season. The school announced the move Tuesday with a statement from athletic director Bubba Cunningham. The school said Cunningham informed the 73-year-old College Football Hall of Fame member that there would be a coaching change. Brown is set to coach the regular-season finale on Saturday against rival N.C. State, though a decision hasn’t been made about whether Brown will coach a bowl game. Brown is in his second stint with the program and won a national championship at Texas.… Continue Reading

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

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

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

BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Doug Flutie’s Miracle in Miami pass with 41-21 win over UNC

BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Doug Flutie’s Miracle in Miami pass with 41-21 win over UNC

BOSTON (AP) — Quarterback Grayson James threw for a touchdown and ran for another Saturday, and Boston College celebrated the 40th anniversary of Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary pass with a 41-21 victory over North Carolina. Ryan Turner added a 78-yard interception return for BC, which became bowl eligible under first-year coach Bill O’Brien. It’s the second straight and eighth in the last nine years the Eagles have a bowl opportunity. Flutie and many of his 1984 teammates were honored on the field before the second quarter. He hit Gerard Phalen with a 48-yard TD as time expired in BC’s Miracle in Miami on Nov. 23, 1984.… Continue Reading

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

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

Hampton’s huge day helps North Carolina hold off Wake Forest 31-24 to reach bowl eligibility

Hampton’s huge day helps North Carolina hold off Wake Forest 31-24 to reach bowl eligibility

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Omarion Hampton posted career highs of 35 carries for 244 yards with a key late touchdown that helped North Carolina beat Wake Forest 31-24. The win pushed the Tar Heels to bowl eligibility. Hampton found the end zone from 6 yards out with 2:26 left for a 31-17 lead. Demond Claiborne ran for two touchdowns for the Demon Deacons, who lost three turnovers. Michael Kern took over at quarterback for Wake Forest due to an injury to starter Hank Bachmeier in the third quarter.… Continue Reading

No. 1 Kansas blows big lead, holds off No. 9 North Carolina in tussle of hoops heavyweights

No. 1 Kansas blows big lead, holds off No. 9 North Carolina in tussle of hoops heavyweights

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Top-ranked Kansas blew a 20-point first-half lead, then had to rally itself in the closing minutes for a 92-89 victory over No. 9 North Carolina on Friday night. The game ended when the Tar Heels’ Elliot Cadeau missed a 3-pointer from right in front of his own bench as time expired. It was just the 13th time that two programs with a combined 10 national championships had met on the hardwood, and the first on either campus since the Tar Heels won in Allen Fieldhouse in 1960. Hunter Dickinson made sure there would be no repeat, scoring the go-ahead basket with 1:15 remaining and finishing with 20 points in the game.… Continue Reading

Hampton, Jones have big days, Tar Heels end skid 41-14 over Virginia

Hampton, Jones have big days, Tar Heels end skid 41-14 over Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Omarion Hampton ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and J.J. Jones caught five passes for 129 yards and a pair of scores as North Carolina snapped a four-game losing streak with a 41-14 win over Virginia. The Tar Heel buried a month’s worth of frustration by dominating the second and third quarters to end their longest losing streak since 2018. Virginia endured a dismal offensive day, not scoring a touchdown until backup quarterback Tony Muskett connected with JR Wilson for a 68-yard score with 10:07 left and the outcome no longer in doubt. The Tar Heels outgained Virginia 428 yards to 288 and held the Cavaliers to a 6-for-16 showing on third down. Virginia, loser of three in a row, struggled to block North Carolina, which racked up 10 sacks.… Continue Reading

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