Michigan State showed grit and depth in a thrilling 94-91 overtime victory against No. 12 North Carolina in the Maui Invitational's third-place game. Led by a career performance from sophomore guard Tre Holloman, the Spartans notched their first marquee win of the season in a game that featured six Spartans scoring in double figures.
Holloman made his first start of the year count, pacing MSU with a career-high 19 points and 7 assists. Jaden Akins and Coen Carr each added 14 points, while freshmen Jeremy Fears Jr. and Frankie Fidler each contributed 13 points. Xavier Booker turned in his most complete game as a Spartan, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, 7 rebounds, and a block.
Michigan State (6-3) shot an impressive 54% from the field and dominated the interior, outscoring the Tar Heels 50-30 in the paint. The Spartans also showed composure at the free-throw line, converting 24 of 31 attempts to help seal the victory.
North Carolina (4-5) mounted a furious second-half comeback, outscoring MSU 48-39 in the final 20 minutes of regulation to force overtime. However, MSU regained control in the extra period, holding the Tar Heels to 9 points while putting up 12 of their own.
Playing without freshman guard Jase Richardson, the Spartans leaned on Holloman’s steady leadership and Fears’ playmaking (6 assists) to navigate a game filled with momentum swings.
For Booker, the game marked a turning point. After a challenging start to the season, the talented freshman big man showed flashes of his potential, contributing on both ends of the court with efficient offense and timely defense.
Michigan State’s balanced attack and ability to execute in crunch time provided a much-needed confidence boost heading into Big Ten play. The Spartans return to action next Wednesday when they travel to Minnesota to face the Golden Gophers in their conference opener.
Key Stats:
Tre Holloman: 19 points, 7 assists
Jaden Akins & Coen Carr: 14 points each
Jeremy Fears Jr. & Frankie Fidler: 13 points each
Xavier Booker: 12 points (5-7 FG), 7 rebounds, 1 block
Paint Scoring: MSU 50, UNC 30
Shooting Efficiency: MSU 54% FG
Looking Ahead at December:
12/4 - @ Minnesota at 8:30 pm on BTN. (Expected Line is MSU -2)
12/7 - vs Nebraska at 12:00 pm on BTN. (Expected Line is MSU -5)
12/17 - vs Oakland at 7:00 pm on ESPN2. (Expected Line is MSU -13)
12/21 - vs FAU at 2:00 pm on FS1. (Expected Line is MSU -10.5)
12/30 - vs W Michigan at 3:00 pm on BTN. (Expected Line is MSU -25.5)
MSU is favored for all five games, including the two early BigTen tests.
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