Michigan State Spartans guard Keith Appling (11) goes between North Carolina Tar Heels forward J.P. Tokoto, left, and guard Nate Britt, right, during their NCAA basketball game in East Lansing, Michigan.EAST LANSING, Mich. – J.P. Tokoto had 12 points and a career-high 10 rebounds to help North Carolina beat No. 1 Michigan State 79-65 Wednesday night, giving the Tar Heels another impressive victory in their inconsistent season.
The Tar Heels (5-2) have been talented enough to defeat the top-ranked Spartans and then-No. 3 Louisville this season, but they’ve also lost to Belmont and UAB.
Michigan State (7-1) fell to an unranked nonconference team at home for the first time in more than a decade.
The Tar Heels took control from the start, never trailed and used a 12-1 run to take a 65-52 lead with 6:02 left.
Kennedy Meeks scored 15 points for North Carolina and Brice Johnson had 14. Marcus Paige and Nate Britt added 13 apiece.