The North Carolina Tar Heels beat the Michigan State Spartans, 67-55, as the two teams opened the season aboard the USS Carl Vinson carrier ship.
The game itself, in the San Diego Bay, was set to play on the aircraft carrier in April, although the specific ship was kept under wraps for security purposes. Tickets were given to close to 4,000 military men and women as well as specified people associated with the two schools.
North Carolina, coming into the season ranked No. 1 in many preseason polls, including the Examiner.com preseason college basketball poll, took care of the Spartans behind All-American Harrison Barnes’ 17-points.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama sat at midcourt. Former North Carolina legends led by James Worthy, Tyler Hansbrough and Vince Carter, as well as former Michigan State legends, led by Magic Johnson, Jason Richardson and Shannon Brown, attended the event. These men and women stood on the same ship that buried Osama bin Laden’s body at sea to watch the start to the college basketball season.
"It's the neatest thing that I've ever been a part of," said North Carolina head coach Roy Williams. "I absolutely loved it."
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