Dent misses a layup and Akins throws it down on the other end as now the Spartans are down by just a point, but Joseph heads to the line and makes both free throws to keep MSU away. Holloman is fouled by Joseph but the Spartan splits his free throws, then Amzil is called for a turnover as a timeout is called with just 33 seconds remaining. Play is stopped to fix a clock error as now it’s 36.8 remaining in this first half. The Spartans drain the clock down but Akins can’t make the open three, then back-to-back misses from the Lobos ends the half as the Spartans enter the locker room down two. (End of 1st Half)
MSU defense holds Lobos at-bay, Spartans inching closer but down 29-26 with two minutes left in first half
New Mexico inbounds out of the timeout, but Zapala stuffs Washington’s layup which leads to Akins making the layup in transition. MSU’s defense forces a 24-second violation, but can’t convert on the other end. Despite forcing a jump-ball that stays in New Mexico’s possession, and Richardson getting a steal, Washington strips Richardson from behind as the ball goes off the Spartan’s leg for a turnover. Holloman cuts baseline and gets the layup as the deficit is cut to three with New Mexico calling their first timeout of the game. (2:01)
Carr, Spartans fight but still down 29-22 late in first half against Lobos
On the first play after the timeout, Fidler finds a cutting Akins for a slam dunk, but Richardson misses a wide-open three as Borovicanian is fouled by Cooper and splits his free throws. Fidler misses a three but Carr gets the offensive rebounds and follows it up with a nice layup in traffic. Holloman misses another three from the Spartans as Fidler fouls Tru Washington, who splits his free throws. Fears draws the foul on Washington and goes to the line, hitting both free throws to make it a 26-20 game. The Lobos end their own cold streak as Amzil makes a three in Carr’s face, but Carr answers back with a tough layup inside. A kick ball violation from MSU leads to another TV timeout. (4:00)
Spartans go on cold streak, down 24-14 to Lobos in first half
After the timeout, both teams trade misses as Frankie Fidler drives and gets fouled as another timeout is called with 11:54 remaining. After that timeout, Fidler goes 2-for-2 at the line but New Mexico answers back with a Donovan Dent jumpshot, then a CJ Noland layup gives the Lobos a 20-13 lead. Holloman is fouled on a shot attempt and makes both free throws. Coen Carr gets the rebound and runs in transition but is called for a travel, then Kohler can’t handle the hot pass from Akins for another turnover. Atiki Alli Atiki makes a layup, then Jace Richardson’s point-blank miss at the rim leads to another layup by Dent as the Spartans are now down by 10. Jeremy Fears goes to the line for the first time but misses both free throws, then Holloman gets a steal as Richardson almost causes another turnover, and a timeout is called. (7:57)
Lobos open on 7-0 run, Spartans down 16-11 early in first half
(Start of game) Nelly Joseph draws the game’s first foul on Szymon Zapala, leading to a Mustapha Amzil jumper for the first points of the game. After a turnover from Zapala on the offensive end, Joseph banks home a long jumper. Filip Borovicanin hits the corner-3 as the Lobos take a quick 7-0 lead, as MSU follows by missing back-to-back 3-point attempts. The Spartans finally get on the board as Jaxon Kohler makes the transition layup as Joseph is called for traveling. Tre Holloman gets a block but the ball finds its way to Amzil for a 3-pointer, but Holloman answers back with a three of his own. Spartans move quickly in transition as Jaden Akins makes a nice layup. These two teams are going back-and-forth now, with each team trading layups as MSU is now down 14-11. Amzil drives and makes a tough layup, as a foul on the Lobos leads to our first TV timeout. (13:17)
Tip-off
Here it is, the last game in the South Region for a spot in the Sweet 16, as it’s Michigan State versus New Mexico. New Mexico wins the tip-off and it is on.
Pregame
The Michigan State Spartans look to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16, as they take on New Mexico in Cleveland on Sunday night.
No. 2-seeded MSU moved on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament by using a dominant second-half performance to defeat No. 15 Bryant 87-62 on Friday night. The win was fueled by Coen Carr’s 18 points off the bench, as the reserves put up a combined 46 points in the victory.
Tom Izzo and the Spartans (28-6) are trying to make it through to the second weekend of March Madness for just the second time in the past five years, and the key to that might be their 3-point shooting after performances like Friday’s.
There have been few upsets in this years NCAA Tournament, but one of them was No. 10 New Mexico (27-7) taking down No. 7 Marquette in the South Region. The Lobos are coached by Richard Pitino, son of legendary head coach Rick Pitino, whose St. John’s squad just lost Saturday to Arkansas.
Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Kameron Goodwill.
South Regional
MICHIGAN STATE vs. NEW MEXICO
▶ Tipoff: 8:40 p.m. Sunday, Rocket Arena, Cleveland
▶ Records: Michigan State 28-6, No. 2 seed; New Mexico, 27-7, No. 10 seed
▶ TV/radio: TNT/760
▶ Series: Michigan State leads, 2-0. Last meeting: Michigan State won, 76-61, on Dec. 28, 1985, in Albuquerque.
