Spartans go down to North Carolina in Carrier Classic, 67-55

With United States President Barack Obama & his wife, Michelle Obama sitting courtside, the North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Michigan State Spartans, 67-55 in the regular season opener in the Carrier Classic on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson in Coronado, California.

Harrison Barnes scored 17 points and John Henson had 12 points & a career-high nine blocked shots for the Tar Heels. Michigan State’s Draymond Green had a career-high 18 rebounds.



The NCAA made history by playing a college basketball game for the first time ever on the USS Carl Vinson, which conducted Osama bin Laden’s burial at sea after he was killed by the Navy SEALs in a raid ordered by Obama a few months ago.

Fitting with the Veterans Day theme, the Tar Heels and Spartans had U.S.A. rather than their names on the back of their jerseys, which had a camouflage design. At dusk, the game was paused for the lowering of the American flag. When the game ended, the players gave their jerseys to the servicemen.



Also in attendance were Michigan State alumni & Los Angeles Laker legend Ervin "Magic" Johnson and Hollywood celebrity Pamela Anderson. When the game ended, President Obama applauded and shook hands with coaches Roy Williams and Tom Izzo, who approved of the Carrier Classic, in hopes of having another next year.