FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 19 points and No. 11 Michigan State pulled away to beat No. 16 North Carolina 74-58 In the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Thursday.

Fears, who came in leading the nation in assists at more than 10 per game, added seven assists. Carson Cooper had 14 points, Cam Ward 11 and Jaxson Kohler 10 along with 11 rebounds for his third double-double of season.

Caleb Wilson led North Carolina (6-1) with 18 points, Henri Veesaar had 13 and Luka Bogavac added 11, but the Tar Heels shot just 38% (21 of 55).

Michigan State (7-0) went 5 of 10 on 3-pointers while North Carolina went 4 of 23. The Spartans also had a 20-5 margin in bench points.

Wilson led the Tar Heels to an early 22-15 lead.

However, the Spartans tightened their defense and held North Carolina sco

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