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Zeller dominates as Hoosiers blast Heels

 
Center Cody Zeller slams down two of his game-high 20 points for Indiana, which won its 34th consecutive November home game with a rout.
Center Cody Zeller slams down two of his game-high 20 points for Indiana, which won its 34th consecutive November home game with a rout.
Published Nov. 28, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Cody Zeller showed everyone Tuesday night why he's the best big man in America.

The 7-foot sophomore had 20 points and eight rebounds, was 8-of-13 from the field and dominated the middle, leading No. 1 Indiana to its most impressive victory this season, a stunning 83-59 rout of No. 14 North Carolina in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

In a game that pitted two of the nation's most storied college programs — they have combined for 10 national titles and 3,767 all-time wins — Zeller made sure it was no contest.

When he wasn't taking advantage of opportunities in the middle, he played the decoy for teammates who were cutting and slashing to the basket.

The combination was just too much for North Carolina (5-2), playing for the first time since returning from Hawaii last week.

Zeller just missed getting his second double double of the season and might have done it, had he not come out of the game early. He had plenty of help, too. Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey added 19 points each and Jordan Hulls had 13.

Indiana (7-0) has won 34 consecutive home games in November, dating to a 2005 loss to Duke in the same event.

The Tar Heels have lost twice in week to teams from the Hoosier State, last Tuesday to two-time national runnerup Butler and now to Indiana in much the same manner. They trailed by 29 points in the second half of both games and by more than 30 in Bloomington.

North Carolina certainly missed sophomore guard P.J. Hairston, who stayed in Chapel Hill, N.C., this week because of a sprained left knee. Without him, Dexter Strickland had 14 points, Marcus Paige 11 and James Michael McAdoo 10.

NO. 3 MICHIGAN 79, NO. 18 N.C. STATE 72: Trey Burke finished with 18 points, all in the second half, and a career-high 11 assists without a turnover, and the host Wolverines (6-0) held off a late rally by the Wolfpack (4-2) in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

NO. 19 COLORADO 85, TEXAS SO. 80, 2OT: Spencer Dinwiddie had 23 points and Josh Scott 19 points and 12 rebounds for the host Buffaloes (6-0), who rallied after trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half.

N. FLORIDA 71, B-CU 65: Parker Smith tied his season high with 22 points as the Ospreys held off Bethune-Cookman (2-5) to snap a four-game losing streak.

Women

NO. 3 BAYLOR 89, RICE 49: Brittney Griner scored a season-high 35 while playing in her hometown of Houston for the first time, and the Bears (6-1) took a 46-17 halftime lead and won easily.

NO. 24 IOWA ST. 87, DRAKE 45: Hallie Christofferson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Nicole Blaskowsky and Anna Prins added 17 points each for the host Cyclones (5-0).

NCAA HIRING: Val Ackerman was hired as a consultant and adviser for the NCAA. Ackerman served as president of the WNBA for eight years after helping get the league started. She also was the first female president of USA Basketball.