University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Middle Tenn St
Men's Basketball Pounds Middle Tennessee
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
November 30, 1998
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - Ademola Okulaja scored 17 points as third-ranked North Carolina remained undefeated by routing Middle Tennessee 75-54 Monday night.
After beating Purdue and Stanford to win the Preseason NIT last week, the Tar Heels (7-0) got a breather against Middle Tennessee (1-4). Despite going scoreless for the first two minutes, they jumped to a 9-0 lead on a steal and dunk by Jeff Capel and led the rest of the way.
Lee Nosse scored 12 points for Middle Tennessee, coached by former North Carolina player and assistant coach Randy Wiel.
The victory continued North Carolina's dominance over teams coached by former Tar Heel players and assistants. Former coach Dean Smith was 11-1 against those teams, while current coach Bill Guthridge is now 4-0.
Kris Lang added 11 points for Carolina, which outrebounded the Blue Raiders 39-19.
Middle Tennessee, which is 0-4 against North Carolina, tried to stay in reach from 3-point range. But Blue Raiders were only 1-of-10 from long range in the first half.
Guthridge used a season-high 13 players and 10 of them scored. Even Ronald Curry, on a break from the football team until practices begin for the Las Vegas Bowl, got into his second game this season.
North Carolina led 37-19 at halftime and increased the lead to 20 in the opening minute of the second half.
Middle Tennessee cut North Carolina's lead to 48-37 on consecutive layups by Richard Duncan and Ali McGhee, but Max Owens hit a 3-pointer to start a 6-0 run for Carolina.
