University Southern California Trojans
USC
North Carolina
Trojans Fall To No. 4 North Carolina, 82-65
November 22, 1999 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 22, 1999
By JIM O'CONNELL
AP Basketball Writer
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) - Freshman Joseph Forte had an impressive collegiate debut with 24 points and his senior backcourtmate, Ed Cota, came up big in the second half as No. 4 North Carolina beat Southern California 82-65 Monday night in the opening round of the Maui Invitational.
The 6-foot-4 Forte, wearing the uniform number that sounds like his name, was 9-for-12 from the field, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range, and combined with Cota on some fastbreaks that made it look like they had been together longer than just the preseason.
Cota finished with 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting and had 10 assists as he made sure that every time the Trojans (1-1) started any kind of run in the second half the momentum went right back to the Tar Heels.
North Carolina will face the winner of the Georgetown-Memphis game in Tuesday night's semifinals.
The Tar Heels closed the first half with a 12-2 run to take a 43-33 lead. The Trojans hung tough and were within 54-52 with 11:23 left on a turnaround by Sam Clancy, who finished with 23 points. That's when Cota and Forte went to work.
Cota hit a 3-pointer, scored on a drive, fed Forte for a dunk on the break and hit a jumper in the lane before Forte's 3-pointer capped a 12-2 run that gave North Carolina a 65-54 lead with 7:15 to play.
A 3-pointer by Brandon Granville got the Trojans within 68-61 with 5:46 left but Cota and Forte went back at it.
Cota hit a jumper and then a layup off a steal by Forte. Forte scored on a flip shot off the glass. Cota made two free throws then fed Forte for another layup that capped a 10-0 run and made it 78-61 with 2:42 to play.
Max Owens and Brendan Haywood each had 15 points for the Tar Heels, who shot 65 percent from the field (34-for-52).
Glanville finished with 15 points for the Trojans, while Brian Scalbrine had 13, all but two in the first half.
