#1 Indiana Shuts Down the Tar Heels, 83-59

The #14 North Carolina Tar Heels have had a few early challenges, and it got a bit more challenging tonight as they traveled to Indiana to face the #1 team in the nation, the #1 Indiana Hoosiers. And it was ugly!

Nov 27, 2012; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Cody Zeller (40) saves the ball from going out of bounds against the North Carolina Tar Heels forward Joel James (0) at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

North Carolina Starters: Dexter Strickland, James Michael McAdoo, Marcus Paige, Reggie Bullock, and Desmond Hubert. Indiana Starters: Cody Zeller, Yogi Ferrell, Jordan Hulls, Christian Watford, and Victor Oladipo.

Carolina won the tip-off but James Michael McAdoo would miss the jumper and Indiana would rebound to score the first basket. Immediately the crowd played a huge role, and it seems they would affect some early communication on the court. Cody Zeller’s presense was felt early on and rather immediately after the game got underway.

With Indiana’s presence rather dominating, North Carolina would not let them get to far behind and would stay right on the Hoosier’s heels. Paige would pick up an early second foul and would be pulled out for a little break giving JP Tokoto a chance to earn some reps.

Turnovers however would limit the Tar Heels from being able to to get an earlier lead until Carolina would grab a one point advantage at 10:10 remaining in the first half after Brice Johnson’s basket would put them up 19-18.

Desmond Hubert got a huge block right before the 7:53 timeout that kept Indiana from an easy basket. IU had 10 points off UNC’s 5 turnovers so far at this point in the game.

Turnovers would continue to be an issue for Carolina as Indiana used them to their benefit (16 points off turnovers) to head to their locker room at the half with a 46-37 lead.

It would be nearly two minutes in the second half before any one would score and Indiana would continue to work on their small lead over the Tar Heels.

After a 10-0 run to start the half without UNC scoring a single point, the Tar Heels were forced to call a timeout with 16:11.

32-8 run for Indiana since the 4:02 (to the 13:10 of the second half) mark in the first half has lit a fire in the Indiana fan base that made things even more difficult for the Tar Heels.

The deficit would prove to be  too much to overcome as North Carolina could not correct their issues and would fall to the #1 Hoosiers: 83-50

Key Factors:

• Cody Zeller
• UNC Turnovers

Box Score: