By MICHAEL MAROT By MICHAEL MAROT ADVERTISING AP Sports Writer BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Cody Zeller showed everyone Tuesday night why he’s the best big man in America. The 7-foot sophomore scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, was 8 of 13
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Cody Zeller showed everyone Tuesday night why he’s the best big man in America.
The 7-foot sophomore scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, was 8 of 13 from the field and dominated the middle, leading No. 1 Indiana to its most impressive victory this season — a stunning 83-59 rout over No. 14 North Carolina.
In a game that pitted two of the nation’s most storied college programs — they have combined for 10 national titles and have a combined 3,767 all-time wins — Zeller made sure it was no contest.
When he wasn’t taking advantage of opportunities in the middle, he played the decoy for teammates who were cutting and slashing to the basket.
The combination was just too much for North Carolina (5-2), playing for the first time since returning from Hawaii last week.
Zeller just missed getting his second double-double of the season and may have had he not come out of the game early. He had plenty of help, too. Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey both added 19 points and Jordan Hulls had 13.
Indiana (7-0) has won 34 consecutive home games in November, dating to a 2005 loss to Duke in the same tournament.
The Tar Heels have lost twice in the past week to teams from the Hoosier State — last Tuesday to two-time national runner-up Butler, and now to Indiana in much the same manner. They trailed by 29 points in the second half of both games and by more than 30 in Bloomington.
North Carolina certainly missed sophomore guard P.J. Hairston, who stayed in Chapel Hill, N.C., this week because of a sprained left knee. Without him, Dexter Strickland had 14 points, Marcus Paige had 11 and James Michael McAdoo finished with 10 — not nearly enough on a night the Tar Heels shot poorly.
For the first 16 minutes, the highly hyped matchup lived up to its billing as the teams battled to a 31-31 draw.
But when Zeller started setting picks late in the first half, everything changed.
Zeller’s outside presence opened up lanes for his teammates, and when Zeller scored six points in the final 3 minutes of the half, the Hoosiers took a 46-37 lead into the locker room. Zeller had 13 points, four rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal in the first 20 minutes, and he was just getting started.
When North Carolina went cold to start the second half, Zeller and Oladipo made them pay. Indiana’s two’ big scorers accounted for seven points in a 13-0 run that made it 59-37 with more than 15 minutes to go.
The Tar Heels never challenged again, and lost for the fifth time in its last seven games against the Hoosiers, a span that began with the 1981 national championship game.
No. 3 Michigan 79
No. 18 North Carolina St. 72
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Trey Burke had 18 points and a career-high 11 assists without a turnover and No. 3 Michigan held off a late rally by No. 18 North Carolina State in a 79-72 victory.
Freshman Nik Stauskas led the Wolverines (6-0) with 20 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 16.
T.J. Warren had 18 points N.C. State (4-2), which trailed 73-58 before going on a 10-0 run.
Michigan committed only six turnovers — four in the first half. N.C. State shot 57 percent from the field but lost its fifth straight game in the ACC-Big Ten challenge.
Michigan has committed 10 or fewer turnovers in five of its six games this season.
No. 21 MINNESOTA 77
FLORIDA ST. 68
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Joe Coleman scored 16 points and Rodney Williams added 14 for Minnesota which beat defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Florida State in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
Coleman made 8 of 13 field goals and had 12 points in the second half while helping the Gophers build a 58-37 lead.
Austin Hollins added 13 points and Andre Hollins had 12 for the Gophers, who never trailed. Elliott Eliason had 10 rebounds.
Minnesota (7-1) led 38-25 at halftime and by as many as 21 points in the second half. The Gophers’ lone loss was to No. 2 Duke in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Reserve Terrance Shannon led Florida State (4-2) with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Michael Snaer finished with 12 points and Terry Whisnant and Okaro White both had 10 for the Seminoles.
