Butler upsets No. 9 North Carolina in Maui Invitational semifinal
Butler guard Rotnei Clarke (15) drives to the basket past North Carolina guard Dexter Strickland (1) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Maui Invitational, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Butler won 82-71. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
LAHAINA >> Butler poured in 12 3-pointers and held off a late-game charge to defeat No. 9 North Carolina 82-71 in a semifinal of the EA Sports Maui Invitational today.
The Bulldogs of the Atlantic 10 Conference, who went to the NCAA championship game in both 2010 and 2011, snapped the Tar Heels’ 10-game winning streak on Maui.
Guards Kellen Dunham and Rotnei Clarke led BU (3-1) with 17 points apiece.
Butler led 60-31 midway through the second half before the Tar Heels (4-1) rallied furiously, scoring 53 points in the second half after just 18 in the first.
UNC got to within 77-71 with a minute remaining, but the Bulldogs finally broke the Heels’ fullcourt pressure and made free throws to hold on.
Butler plays the winner of Tuesday’s Illinois-Chaminade nightcap on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
