Alex Roux, BTN.com editor, December 1, 2016
The Big Ten's seven-year undefeated streak in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge was snapped Wednesday, as the ACC took five of the Challenge's final six games. The ACC won the Challenge 9-5 – full results with box scores and game stories on our scoreboard for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday games.
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The results of the 2016 slate are below – click the links for available highlights and video reports.
Monday, Nov. 28
- Florida State 75, Minnesota 67
- Northwestern 65, Wake Forest 58
Tuesday, Nov. 29
- Pittsburgh 73, Maryland 59
- Penn State 67, Georgia Tech 60
- Wisconsin 77, Syracuse 60
- Notre Dame 92, Iowa 78
- Illinois 88, NC State 74
- Duke 78, Michigan State 69
Wednesday, Nov. 30
- Louisville 71, Purdue 64
- Virginia Tech 73, Michigan, 70
- Miami 73, Rutgers 61
- Indiana 76, North Carolina 67
- Virginia 63, Ohio State 61
- Clemson 60, Nebraska 58
Despite a rough night Wednesday after entering the evening tied at four games apiece with the ACC, the Big Ten finished strong by securing the biggest victory of the series. No. 13 Indiana defeated No. 3 North Carolina 76-67 in front of a raucous crowd at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Just like in recent years, the 2016 Challenge was extremely competitive. Ohio State, Nebraska and Michigan lost by a combined seven points Wednesday night.
Below are some of the "bests" of the latest edition of the Challenge.
Best win: The No. 3 Tar Heels were the highest-ranked team to fall in the series, making Indiana's 76-67 victory the most impressive. The matchup of two of the NCAA's most storied programs certainly lived up to the hype, as the deafening atmosphere at Assembly Hall was impossible to ignore.
Best dunk: A tie between Michigan State freshman Miles Bridges and Indiana sophomore OG Anunoby. Bridges threw down a vicious tip-dunk against Duke Tuesday night, while Anunoby skied for an alley-oop against North Carolina that set off the latest outbreak of Hoosier Hysteria.
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Best crossover: Northwestern's Bryant McIntosh put his Wake Forest defender on skates with this crossover Monday night.
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Best stat line: Nigel Hayes spoiled his own triple-double by missing a late free-throw, and he was none too pleased. He'd settle for 9 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
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Best game: Ohio State was undefeated entering its visit to No. 6 Virginia Wednesday night, and the Buckeyes almost held on throughout after grabbing a 22-11 lead early. The Cavaliers grinded back and edged out a 63-61 victory as Ohio State's JaQuan Lyle saw his game-winning triple fall short at the buzzer.
Best player: Ethan Happ scored 24 points and snatched 13 rebounds in No. 17 Wisconsin's 77-60 win over Syracuse.
Familiar face: Nebraska transfer Andrew White III scored 14 points in the Orange's 77-60 loss to Wisconsin.
Best uniforms: These saucy Flying' Illini throwbacks didn't technically help Illinois in their 88-74 win over North Carolina State, but they certainly didn't hurt.
Throwbacks tonight. ??? #Illini #ACCB1G pic.twitter.com/WjK7QV3JBq
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) November 30, 2016