ATLANTA — All season, Michigan State has won games it seemingly shouldn’t, gotten by when a deficit seemed to spell doom and found a way. So if this team is going to go to the Final Four, that’s exactly how it’ll do so.
And the Spartans appear totally comfortable with that.
Up against a rugged foe from the mighty SEC, the second-seeded Spartans pried away a 73-70 victory from Ole Miss and booked a spot in the South Region Elite Eight, winning again, for the eighth time since the start of February, after trailing at halftime.
The Spartans are still alive thanks to Jase Richardson’s 20 points, a breakout 15-point performance from sophomore Coen Carr, another reliable two-way game from veteran Jaden Akins and winning on both ends of the floor in the second half. Richardson hit 4-of-6 from 3-point range.
Michigan State didn’t take its first lead until the seven-minute mark of the second half and seemed poised to finally overtake the underdog Rebels. Instead, the two rip-snorted through a wild finish, matching moment for moment.
A steal at midcourse led to Carr cocking the ball behind his head and destroying the rim at the 4:24 mark.
Ole Miss marksman Sean Pedulla answered with a 3 and a cold stare at 4:02. Back and forth they went. All told, three were four ties and four lead changes during the final six minutes.
Michigan State closed with five straight made baskets, coming on driving layups from Richardson, Akins and Jeremy Fears Jr. They spent all night looking for easy baskets and dialed them up when they mattered.
The Spartans’ rallying cry since midseason has been their pride in parceled production. They printed T-shirts and everything. “Strength in numbers,” they read. The team entered Friday with eight players averaging more than 12 minutes per game and more than four points per contest. No one plays more than 27 minutes or averages more than 13 points per game.
Against Ole Miss, Izzo tightened his rotation down to eight and inserted Carr, an explosive 6-foot-6 forward, into the starting lineup, not because Izzo wanted to give him a start in his hometown of Atlanta but to matchup better with an Ole Miss team that touts positionless rotations as a strength.
The move seemingly backfired early, leaving Michigan State without a true center and taking away a perceived interior advantage. Expecting to dominate the offensive glass, Michigan State instead spent most of the first half taking difficult shots amid a thicket of Ole Miss defenders on one-and-done trips. The Rebels led by as many as 10 in the first half thanks to early 3s by Pedulla and strong play from veteran Matthew Murrell.
In time, however, Izzo’s moves proved to play out. Michigan State trailed 33-31 at the break, only setting up a familiar recipe in another come-from-behind win.
Now it’s on to Sunday.
Michigan State is one win away from a ninth Final Four appearance in the 70-year-old’s 30-year tenure. If the Spartans can get by top-seeded Auburn or rival Michigan in the Elite Eight, Izzo will join Roy Williams, ranking fourth all-time in Final Four appearances, behind only Mike Krzyzewski (13), John Wooden (12) and Dean Smith (11).
Perhaps that’s only the beginning of some new history. Izzo and Michigan State are still looking for the elusive second national championship of his era.
For Ole Miss, the loss ends an impressive second season under Chris Beard. The Rebels were hoping for the program’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance but will have to settle for 24 wins, tied for the third-most in program history.
(Top photo of Tre Holloman: Brett Davis / Imagn Images)
