No. 10 Indiana handles No. 18 North Carolina, 77-65

Backed by an sturdy defensive effort, No. 10 Indiana picked up a powerful win over No. 18 Carolina 77-65 on Wednesday evening to stay undefeated.

The Hoosiers picked up their first ranked win to contribute to the Tar Heels’ slide that’s now as much as three in a row. UNC, which was No. 1 within the preseason, has additionally misplaced to Iowa State and Alabama since Friday.

Defensively, Indiana set the tone instantly by suffocating North Carolina within the half courtroom. The Hoosiers scored 17 factors off 10 Tar Heel turnovers and outshot UNC 50% to 33.9% whereas making 11 extra photographs from the sphere.

Trayce Jackson-Davis led all scorers with 21 to associate with 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Xavier Johnson adopted shut behind with 20 factors, eight rebounds, 4 assists and two steals.

Johnson and his backcourt mate Jalen Hood-Schifino (14 factors) exemplified the Hoosiers defensive executing completely in opposition to North Carolina’s proficient guards, holding them to a mixed 9 for 27. 

That each one meant the skid continued for the Tar Heels. This time final week, North Carolina held the No. 1 spot going again to the preseason. The workforce’s main scorer, Caleb Love, struggled and shot solely 5 for 16 and 13 factors. 

The opposite half of the Heels’ one-two punch, Armando Bacot, didn’t have a typical explosive efficiency on account of nursing a pair accidents. Early within the first half, Bacot sustained a blow to the shoulder which appeared to inhibit him all through the sport. That got here after injuring his ankle within the final recreation.

Subsequent, the Tar Heels look to get proper in opposition to unranked Virginia Tech on Dec. 4 whereas Indiana will face its first convention opponent in Rutgers on Dec. 3