It has become all too predictable.
Each time the MSU men’s basketball team has met North Carolina on the national stage in recent history, the Tar Heels have had their way with a Spartans team that routinely has appeared bewildered and overmatched.
Spartans fall to Tar Heels after poor 1st half
Junior guard Kalin Lucas attempts a layup past sophomore forward Ed Davis during the Spartans game against the Tar Heels on Tuesday at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Tuesday night was no different.
North Carolina imposed its will early, riding a remarkable shooting effort and an overwhelming amount of depth at the frontcourt positions to handle the Spartans 89-82 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
“There were some good things, but there were definitely some bad things I was disappointed about,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo told the Spartan Sports Network after the game.
The No. 9-ranked Spartans ferociously chipped away late at a formidable second-half deficit, but a handful of poor possessions in the waning minutes of the first half allowed the No. 10 Tar Heels to accumulate an imposing 50-34 lead early, and the early rout, again, was on.
After all, it was nearly impossible for the Spartans (5-2) to compete in the first 20 minutes — MSU shot 0-for-7 from beyond the 3-point arc and the Tar Heels (7-1) shot almost 64 percent from the field.
And now, MSU’s early-season loss total matches its lofty preseason ranking.
The Tar Heels flaunted their strengths — 6-foot-9 forward Deon Thompson and 6-foot-10 forward Ed Davis — by receiving 12 of their first 14 points from their big men, which Izzo pointed to this week as serious concerns.
“All in all, they hurt us inside,” Izzo said. “There’s no question. Davis and Thompson are very good players.”
Davis had a game-high 22 points on 8-for-10 shooting while senior forward Raymar Morgan came to play for the Spartans, tallying 18 points and six rebounds.
Sophomore guard Korie Lucious helped shoot the Spartans back into the game and the teams exchanged baskets midway through the half before North Carolina produced a lineup that included four freshmen on the floor and a 7-0 run gave the Tar Heels a 28-21 lead.
Dexter Strickland 3-point basket as time expired in the first half made it three games in a row during which North Carolina has scored 50 or more points in the first half against the Spartans.
In the second half, MSU chipped away at Carolina’s lead by pushing the fast break, rotating the ball around the perimeter and crashing the boards.
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But rebounding becomes almost a moot statistic when the opposition simply doesn’t often miss baskets.
“There’s some things to build off,” Izzo said.
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