.png&width=36&height=36&type=webp)
University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Michigan St
No. 6 North Carolina Falls To No. 3 Michigan St. 77-64
November 29, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2000
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State has no plans to make this a rebuilding season.
The third-ranked Spartans beat No. 6 North Carolina 77-64 Wednesday night in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game.
Jason Richardson led Michigan State (4-0) with 16 points, while Andre Hutson had 14 points and nine rebounds. Charlie Bell added 15 points as part of the Spartans' balanced attack.
Kris Lang prevented North Carolina (3-1) from being routed by scoring a career-high 22 points on 11-of-16 shooting.
Michigan State extended the nation's longest winning streak to 15 games and won its 32nd straight home game, second only to Utah's 54 in a row at home.
The Spartans went on a 14-2 run late in the first half and never relinquished the momentum. They led by 13 at halftime and the Tar Heels were not able to slice the deficit to less than seven in the second half.
Sure, there are about four months and 30 games left before Michigan State will have a chance to defend its NCAA title, but the Spartans provided further proof that there is life after Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson.
Five players scored the first five baskets and the balanced scoring didn't stop there.
When North Carolina extended its zone defense, Michigan State scored inside. When it sagged its defense inside, the Spartans would find an open player on the perimeter.
Michigan State appeared poised to break the game open on several occasions in the second half, but North Carolina refused to be embarrassed on national television.
Foul trouble hurt the Tar Heels' chances. Jason Capel picked up his fourth foul with 16 minutes left in the game and fouled out with 1:49 left. Brian Morrison also fouled out and Brendan Haywood had to play several minutes in foul trouble.
Joseph Forte struggled against Bell's defensive pressure and finished with 11 points, while Haywood added 10.
The Spartans' 14-2 run gave them a 40-27 lead.
Five players scored during the burst and Richardson capped it with a spectacular play. He caught a high pass with his left hand then glided across the lane for a reverse layup with his right.
North Carolina sliced Michigan State's 13-point halftime lead to seven on three occasions in the opening minutes of the second half. Each time, a different Spartan scored to stunt the Tar Heels' momentum.
North Carolina was the highest ranked nonconference opponent to visit East Lansing since 1974.
