1. Frustrating game on Maui as Michigan State manages to win 94-91 in overtime.

2. There is a lot to discuss about this game, but there is absolutely no question that the technical foul was called Hubert Davis The game changed at 13:16. Carolina had all the momentum and the lead (58-57) at that point and Michigan State tried to call a timeout. The Tar Heels unnecessarily interfered in the game and were whistled for a foul. At this point, we’ll have to see what the postgame statement was, but from across the court it certainly looked like a prominent member of the MSU bench addressed the UNC bench directly. As the Tar Heels responded, an official came from across the field and called a technical foul Hubert Davis— the first in the head coach’s career — for standing outside the coach’s area, a rule that is, of course, strictly enforced here at the Maui Invitational. Given the histrionics we saw on the sideline, it’s unbelievable that this was the moment that resulted in a technical foul.

3. What was the result of this piece? Michigan State — which needed every timeout it had in the final minutes because it couldn’t get the ball up the court and ended regulation time with zero available timeouts — didn’t have to take the timeout they desperately tried. The Spartans also hit two free throws to regain the lead.

4. That was unfortunate, and of course we won’t get the chance to hear from the game masters about what they saw in that sequence. But Carolina still had plenty of chances as the Spartans trailed in the final 4:30 of regulation (and Carolina still trailed by seven with 1:24 left in the second half). Elliot Cadeau was extremely frustrated after he missed a great shot right at the rim with 19 seconds left that would have given UNC a one-point lead.

5. And even after all that once Seth Trimble When she hit a three-pointer to send the game into overtime, it seemed like Carolina had the momentum. But the Tar Heels couldn’t turn it into points as they only made two field goals in the extra session – one to three Drake Powell and another threesome RJ Davis.

6. Powell has arrived. He was part of a freshman duo with Ian Jackson That gave the Heels 20 of their 34 points in the first half (ten each). A Carolina rotation that is still developing on the wing and in the frontcourt needs to make room for more Powell. He finished with 18 points in a career-best 33 minutes. There are better days ahead for him.

7. The Carolinas offense once again struggled to get to the line. The Heels attempted just 21 free throws, MSU had 31 (the Heels had to foul late), with only six of those attempts coming from the combination of Trimble and Davis, a duo that had done it very successfully earlier in the season to reach the finish line.

8. For the third straight game, Carolina faced a double-digit deficit in the first half. Michigan State had some unexpected offensive success, leading by as many as 14 before the Heels cut their lead to nine at halftime. It was almost worse, but a Spartan three-pointer that beat the buzzer didn’t actually beat the buzzer. This cushion – with the Heels once again playing from the back – proved to be just enough. It is a trend that needs to be corrected.

9. Part of that deficit was due to the UNC guards once again facing foul trouble. Cadeau received two quick fouls and Davis also received two fouls. As a result, the duo sat on the bench for long periods of the first 20 minutes.

10. Tough break for Tom Izzo’s team as the Spartans played without Jase Richardson, who was very good early in his career in East Lansing. Richardson posted an 18-point performance against Memphis but was sidelined Wednesday with a head injury. However, as Dean Smith has often said, a team can cope with losing a key player for a game because everyone raises their level of play. Four different Spartans reached career highs in Wednesday’s game.

11. You’ll see this match again next Thanksgiving. Carolina and Michigan State will play in a Thanksgiving Day game at the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Florida in 2025.

12. More important than the current streak is the significance this win could have over the entire season. Because of the strength of the ACC, the Tar Heels may not have many chances for big wins that could improve their postseason fortunes. They needed this and are now on the verge of despair ahead of Wednesday’s home game against talented Alabama.