For the second time in six years, Michigan State advanced to the Final Four as the No. 5 seed. The Spartans opened the tournament against New Mexico State. The Spartans led by 16 points in the first half, but NMSU fought back to tie the game in the second half. MSU’s defense then forced nine straight misses and the Spartans hit enough free throws to claim a 70-67 victory.
In the second round, MSU faced Maryland. Kalin Lucas suffered a season-ending injury in the first half, but the Spartans still led by 16 points midway through the second half. Of the game’s six lead changes, four came in the final 40 seconds. Greivis Vasquez gave Maryland an 83-82 lead with six seconds left. Draymond Green then hustled the ball up court, passing the ball to Korie Lucious at the top of the key, who then nailed the buzzer-beating 3-pointer setting off a wild celebration.
Appearing in their third-straight Sweet 16, the Spartans faced a Northern Iowa team that had just knocked off No. 1 seed Kansas. MSU trailed by four at the half, but once again used strong second-half defense to emerge with a win, holding UNI without a field goal over the final 10:20 of the contest in a 59-52 MSU victory.
Tennessee stood between MSU and a second-straight trip to the Final Four. It started out as an offensive battle, as the game was tied 16-16 just over five minutes in, but turned into a test of defense down the stretch. Durrell Summers hit a 3-pointer with 2:47 left to give MSU a 69-66 lead. But after two Spartan misses and a missed front end of a 1-and-1, Tennesse had the ball in the final seconds with a chance to take the lead. With 11 seconds left, Scotty Hopson was fouled and went to the foul line with UT trailing 69-68. Hopson hit the first but missed the second. Lucious corralled the miss and pushed the ball up court. He passed to Draymond Green, who found Raymar Morgan open underneath the basket. Morgan was fouled and made the first free throw to send MSU to the Final Four.
At the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium, MSU faced a hometown Butler squad. The Spartans struggled through an off shooting night, hitting 42.9 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent from the foul line. Butler shot just 30.6 percent from the floor, but connected on 17-of-24 free throws. MSU had the ball down just one point in the final seconds. The ending was somewhat controversial as Draymond Green appeared to be fouled on his jumper from the lane, but no call was made and the Bulldogs hit free throws to secure a 52-50 victory.
