LAHAINA, Hawaii — In a thrilling matchup for third place at the Maui Invitational, Michigan State triumphed over No. 12 North Carolina with a score of 94-91, thanks to a strong performance from Tre Holloman and Xavier Booker during the overtime period.
Holloman, making his first start of the season, was a standout player for the Spartans (6-2), contributing a career-high 19 points. His impressive play included scoring 16 points in the first half alone, where he was perfect from the field at 6-for-6, including four successful attempts from beyond the arc.
Alongside Holloman, Jaden Akins and Coen Carr each added 14 points, while Jeremy Fears Jr. and Frankie Fidler both contributed 13 points. Booker rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points.
On the other side of the court, the Tar Heels (4-3) were led by Drake Powell, who scored 18 points. Elliot Cadeau and RJ Davis also made notable contributions with 17 and 16 points, respectively. A pivotal moment in the game came when North Carolina’s Seth Trimble hit a three-pointer with just 5.2 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
Despite facing the challenge of being without freshman guard Jase Richardson, who had previously scored 18 points against Memphis before sustaining an injury, Michigan State managed to keep up the pressure. Meanwhile, North Carolina struggled during the tournament, finding itself in double-digit halftime deficits in each of its three games in Maui. Notably, this loss marked the highest point total the Tar Heels have allowed all season.
A critical play occurred late in overtime when, after Cadeau gave North Carolina an 87-86 lead with two free throws, Booker responded with a dunk from an assist by Holloman. This basket would prove vital, as it established a lead for Michigan State that they would not relinquish with only 2:03 left to play.
Looking at the statistics, Michigan State showcased a shooting percentage of 54% from the field and an impressive 24 of 31 from the free-throw line. Additionally, they dominated the paint, outscoring North Carolina 50 to 30.
Both teams will be back in action on Wednesday, with Michigan State set to kick off its Big Ten campaign against Minnesota, while North Carolina will host No. 9 Alabama.