Michigan State defeated New Mexico on Sunday night in the round of 32, punching its ticket to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 to face the Ole Miss Rebels. The South Region semifinals and final take place in Atlanta, Georgia.
A notable note about of Atlanta, it is the hometown of MSU’s budding star, Coen Carr. Carr, a native of Stockbridge, Georgia, will be going home to play in the biggest games of the Spartans season.
In the postgame interview on Sunday, a funny interaction took place between Carr and coach Tom Izzo. When Izzo asked Carr about buying the team meals in his hometown, Carr had an amazing reaction, one that would even be considered GIF worthy.
Watch the funny interaction between Izzo and Carr on X:
After a complicated and uncomfortable initial 20 minutes, where the Spartans had a weary five-point lead but played like they could have given it up at any moment, MSU honed in its strength and exploded in the second half to beat Bryant, 87-62, to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
With the win, No. 2 MSU will face No. 10 seed New Mexico on Sunday, March 23, at 8:40 p.m. The Lobos beat Marquette on Friday, 75-66, with four players notching double-digit points.
For most of the first half and briefly in the second, it was anyone’s game — with Bryant appearing to have the upper hand. Spearheaded by guards Rafael Pinzon and Earl Timberlake, the Bulldogs found themselves either down by a couple of points, or in the lead, for almost the entire half.
MSU’s miscues were largely what kept Bryant in the game.
“The score was not indicative of the game,” MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo said postgame. “They came out and punched us right in the mouth.”
MSU simply didn’t look good in the first half. The Spartans missed free throws, let Bryant take a few open shots and drive to the lane, and turned the ball over — they had seven turnovers in the first half. They never struck a chord, found momentum or could grasp a satisfying lead in the first half.
But through this rocky half, Carr stood out.
Carr had 13 of MSU’s first 25 points, having gone a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and three free throws. At the half, he had 15 points and five rebounds.
“I just try to get second-chances for my team. Whether I’m getting rebounds and putting it back up myself, or I’m getting it and passing it out to my teammates. (I’m) just trying to get extra possessions for my squad,” Carr said.
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