University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Purdue
Tar Heels Say Aloha To Purdue
November 24, 1999 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 24, 1999
By JIM O'CONNELL
AP Basketball Writer
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) - North Carolina's backcourt of senior Ed Cota and freshman Joseph Forte had its third straight impressive outing, leading the fourth-ranked Tar Heels over No. 22 Purdue 90-75 Wednesday night in the championship of the Maui Invitational.
The two took turns coming up with big plays as the Tar Heels (3-0) erased a 39-34 halftime deficit and took control midway through the second half. North Carolina won the eight-team tournament for the first time in three championship game appearances.
Forte had 24 points in his college debut against Southern California - the most ever scored by a Tar Heel in his first game - and 17 in the semifinal win over Georgetown. This time, he had 21 points, including 16 in the second half, and was voted the tournament MVP.
Cota finished with 15 points and seven assists - his sixth assist made him North Carolina's career leader with 769, one more than Kenny Smith had from 1983-87.
The win was the third in as many years for the Tar Heels over the oilermakers (2-1) in preseason tournaments. They beat them in the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout two years ago and in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT last year.
Purdue started strong in taking the five-point halftime lead, but Forte and Cota were too much in the second half.
Forte hit three jumpers, one a 3-pointer, as the Tar Heels started the second half with a 12-6 run that gave them their first lead of the game, 46-45 with 17:12 to play.
Jaraan Cornell's jumper pulled Purdue to 52-50 with 15:01 left before Cota took off. He hit a 3-pointer and fed Brendan Haywood for a layup that started a 13-2 run, giving North Carolina a 65-52 lead with 9:56 to play.
After Purdue closed to 67-60, Forte hit a 3-pointer that didn't even move the net and Cota followed with a floater in the lane. When Max Owens scored on a layup with 5:19 left, the Tar Heels had a 74-60 lead.
Owens had 14 points for the Tar Heels, who shot 57 percent (35-for-61), and Brian Bersticker had 12.
Greg McQuay had 17 points to lead all five Purdue starters in double figures. Cornell had 14, Mike Robinson and Brian Cardinal 12 each, and Carson Cunningham 11.
McQuay had 12 rebounds and Robinson had 11 as the Boilermakers outrebounded North Carolina 43-32.
The win was North Carolina's eighth straight over Purdue following losses in the first two meetings between the schools.
