Wednesday, November 23
Maui, HI
8:30 PM
Wisconsin Badgers
4-2
56
vs
71
North Carolina
7-0
1
2
F
WISCONSIN
20
36
56
NORTH CAROLINA
29
42
71
Photo by: Icon Sportswire
Wisconsin falls to North Carolina in Maui Invitational title game
November 23, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Badgers unable to shake cold shooting against Tarheels
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) -- Kennedy Meeks had 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, Joel Berry II scored 22 points and No. 4 North Carolina ran away from No. 16 Wisconsin 71-56 on Wednesday night to win its fourth Maui Invitational title.
The long, athletic Tar Heels (7-0) ran roughshod through the deep Maui field, so good in the semifinals that Oklahoma State coach Brad Underwood called them the "best team in the country."
North Carolina looked the part again in the title game, dominating Wisconsin (4-2) at both ends of the court.
The Tar Heels held the Badgers to 38 percent shooting and harassed their leading scorer, Bronson Koenig, into a 1-for-13 night.
Isaiah Hicks had 15 points for North Carolina and Justin Jackson added 12.
Vitto Brown led Wisconsin with 15 points and Ethan Happ had 13.
North Carolina rolled over Chaminade and Oklahoma State in the first two Maui rounds, winning by a combined 75 points and looking like a national title contender.
Wisconsin reached the title game by pulling away from Tennessee and dominating Georgetown on the glass.
The Tar Heels looked like they were headed for another runaway victory at the start of the title game, the Badgers looking like they had been in the sun too long on Kaanapali Beach.
Unable to handle North Carolina's length on defense or hit shots when they were open, Wisconsin missed its first 11 shots and needed nearly 7 1/2 minutes to score.
The Badgers settled down after their jittery start and cut the lead to four before North Carolina stretched it to 29-20 by halftime.
Berry was the catalyst for North Carolina in the first half and continued to be in the second, scoring and orchestrating the Tar Heels' offense.
Up next, Wisconsin hosts Prairie View A&M on Sunday and faces No. 18 Syracuse next Tuesday.
The long, athletic Tar Heels (7-0) ran roughshod through the deep Maui field, so good in the semifinals that Oklahoma State coach Brad Underwood called them the "best team in the country."
North Carolina looked the part again in the title game, dominating Wisconsin (4-2) at both ends of the court.
The Tar Heels held the Badgers to 38 percent shooting and harassed their leading scorer, Bronson Koenig, into a 1-for-13 night.
Isaiah Hicks had 15 points for North Carolina and Justin Jackson added 12.
Vitto Brown led Wisconsin with 15 points and Ethan Happ had 13.
North Carolina rolled over Chaminade and Oklahoma State in the first two Maui rounds, winning by a combined 75 points and looking like a national title contender.
Wisconsin reached the title game by pulling away from Tennessee and dominating Georgetown on the glass.
The Tar Heels looked like they were headed for another runaway victory at the start of the title game, the Badgers looking like they had been in the sun too long on Kaanapali Beach.
Unable to handle North Carolina's length on defense or hit shots when they were open, Wisconsin missed its first 11 shots and needed nearly 7 1/2 minutes to score.
The Badgers settled down after their jittery start and cut the lead to four before North Carolina stretched it to 29-20 by halftime.
Berry was the catalyst for North Carolina in the first half and continued to be in the second, scoring and orchestrating the Tar Heels' offense.
Up next, Wisconsin hosts Prairie View A&M on Sunday and faces No. 18 Syracuse next Tuesday.
Team Stats
WIS
NC
FG%
.382
.491
3FG%
.364
.250
FT%
.600
1.000
RB
26
38
TO
11
12
STL
8
3
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
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