Xavier Booker scored four of his 12 points in a critical stretch of overtime and Michigan State outlasted No. 12-ranked North Carolina 94-91 in the third-place game at the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Wednesday.
The Spartans (6-2) led almost wire-to-wire, never trailing by more than a point at any juncture. However, North Carolina went on a furious 9-2 run over the final 79 seconds of regulation, forcing overtime on Seth Trimble’s 3-pointer with five seconds remaining.
In the extra frame, North Carolina’s Elliot Cadeau — who missed a wide-open layup in the closing minute of regulation that would have given the Tar Heels a lead — made a pair of free throws to put his team ahead 87-86.
On the ensuing possession, Cadeau slid over in the paint to help on Booker, rolling to the basket after setting a ball screen. Cadeau could not slow Booker, who threw down an emphatic dunk that put Michigan State back ahead, and for good.
Booker rebounded a missed RJ Davis 3-pointer on the next possession, then scored a layup off Jeremy Fears Jr.’s assist to push the Spartans ahead by three points. That was all the cushion they needed to close out a 2-1 showing in the Maui Invitational.
Six Spartans scored in double figures, led by Tre Holloman’s 19 points. He also dished seven assists.
Fears added six assists to go with his 13 points, and Jaden Akins scored 14 points before fouling out. Booker was part of a three-man contingent off the bench to step up, joining Coen Carr (14 points) and Frankie Fidler (13).
The trio combined to shoot 16 of 21 from the floor.
Drake Powell came off the bench to lead North Carolina (4-3) with 18 points. He shot 4 of 6 from beyond the 3-point arc, leading the Tar Heels to an 11-of-23 performance shooting from deep.
Cadeau finished with 17 points and six assists and Davis had 16 points with seven assists. Ian Jackson added 14 points off the bench. Trimble failed to score in double figures for the first time this season, closing with nine points.
–Field Level Media
