Stingy Spartans thump Tar Heels

PORTLAND, Ore. — Joshua Lanford made five 3-pointers and scored 23 points and No. 4 Michigan State toppled 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 (5-1) bullied the Tar Heels on the interior at both at both ends of the floor and getting just enough offense on a night North Carolina (5-1) struggled to make anything. The Tar Heels shot just 24.6 percent, the worstshooting game in North Carolina 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

Kevin Knox scored a career-high 25 points to lead Kentucky (6-1) to a victory over the University of Illinois-Chicago (2-3) night to conclude play in the Adolph Rupp Classic in Lexington, Kentucky.

Rui Hachimura came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points, Josh Perkins added 15 points and Gonzaga (5-1) blew a 21-point second half lead before putting away Texas (4-2) in overtime in a consolation game at the PK80 Invitational in Portland, Oregon.

Moritz Wagner had 21 points and 10 rebounds, Charles Matthews had 17 points and 12 assists and Michigan (6-1) cruised past UC Riverside (2-3) in Ann Arobor, Michigan.

Women

Arike Ogunbowale scored 23 points, Jackie Young added 22 and the Fighting Irish (6-0) beat the defending national champion Gamecocks (6-1) to take the Gulf Coast Showcase championship in Estero, Florida.

Ieshia Small had a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double and Maryland (5-2) held off Miami (4-2) to win the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament in Coral Gables, Florida.

Rebecca Greenwell hit five 3-pointers and scored 22 points, Lexie Brown added 18 points and Duke (5-1) rolled to a win over Presbyterian (1-5) in Durham, North Carolina.