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Butler vs. UNC Rotnei Clarke

Butler guard Rotnei Clarke (15)  (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

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Butler holds off ninth-ranked UNC in Maui

Updated: Wednesday, 21 Nov 2012, 6:58 AM EST
Published : Tuesday, 20 Nov 2012, 10:45 PM EST

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) - Maybe North Carolina should have just gone to the beach. Butler is the team to beat in Maui.

Rotnei Clarke and Kellen Dunham each scored 17 points Tuesday night to lead the unranked Bulldogs past No. 9 UNC, jumping out to a 17-point halftime lead and holding back several second-half surges from the Tar Heels in the second round of the Maui Invitational.

The Tar Heels (4-1) missed their first three shots and never led.

One day after a buzzer-beater over Marquette, Butler (3-1) held North Carolina to 18 points in the first half. It was by far the worst output in a half for the Tar Heels so far this season.

P.J. Hairston led UNC with 15 points.

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