The Indiana Hoosiers (5) saw their season end Friday night in the Sweet 16, as the North Carolina Tar Heels (1) prevailed in blowout fashion, 101-86.
The Tar Heels (27-8) shoot just 32 percent from behind the 3-point line for the season, but started Friday's game 7-7 from 3-point range.
Indiana went to the halftime break down 11. The Hoosiers, who never led, trailed by as much as 22 late in the second half.
"We had another slow start," says Troy Williams. "In this tournament, we've been starting off slow, and it came back to hurt us."
Marcus Paige led the way for North Carolina, pouring in 21 points and 6 assists. Paige made six of his nine attempts from three, and nailed all four of his attempts in the first half.
"Marcus was making video game shots to start the game," says Indiana head coach Tom Crean. "He's a tremendous player. We never got him under control early with what we wanted to do [defending] the wings."
Sophomore guard Robert Johnson, who injured his ankle in the second round game against Kentucky, did not play. Crean said the decision was made by the team's medical staff.
"You think about going against doctor's orders trying to get Rob Johnson into the game, but it wasn't going to fly," Crean says.
Playing his last collegiate game, Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell scored 25 points. Ferrell ends his time in Bloomington 1,986 points, surpassing Alan Henderson for sixth on the program's all-time scoring list. As Ferrell checked out for the final time in a Hoosier uniform, the senior was greeted to a standing ovation from the Indiana fans in attendance.
"Lose a game in the Sweet 16, [we] didn't get to where we wanted to," Ferrell says. "But just reflecting back on all four years I've had at IU, I've had a lot of accomplishments. I feel like I gave my all to IU."
Besides Ferrell, Friday marked the end of a collegiate career for seniors Max Bielfeldt, Nick Zeisloft, Ryan Burton and Jackson Tharp.
