Michigan State is headed back to the Final Four for the first time since 2010, thanks to a 76-70 overtime victory over Louisville in the East Regional Final on Sunday in Syracuse.
While guards Travis Trice (17 points) and Denzel Valentine (15) paced the scoring for Michigan State, the Spartans found an unlikely hero off the bench in guard Bryn Forbes, who chipped in 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range.
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Louisville led 40-32 at halftime, behind 12 points apiece from Montrezl Harrell and Wayne Blackshear. The Cardinals maintained a similar lead early in the second half, before the Spartans edged closer, then tied it at 51 just past the midway point of the second half. They took the lead seconds later on a 3-pointer by Forbes.
After Louisville forward Mangok Mathiang hit one of two free throws with 4.9 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 65 and send the game into overtime, Forbes opened the scoring in overtime with another 3-pointer. He later added a couple of free throws to extend the Spartans’ lead.
Now, the Spartans (27-11) will head to Indianapolis for the Final Four, where they’ll face the winner of Sunday night’s South Regional Final game between Duke and Gonzaga. Michigan State has made eight previous appearances in the Final Four, most recently in 2010, when the Spartans lost to Butler.
Michigan State has two national titles, one under current coach Tom Izzo in 2000, the other in 1979, with star Magic Johnson leading the way.
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Izzo admitted after the game his team made plenty of mistakes. But that doesn't matter now, as the Spartans look ahead to Indy.
“We had some chances to do some things early, we made a few mistakes, which is what we do,” Izzo told CBS after the game. “But this is an unbelievable experience, probably the best of the seven (Final Fours) I’ve been to.”
Izzo is now the only coach in NCAA history to reach three Final Fours as a No. 5 seed or lower. This year — Izzo's seventh national semifinal — the Spartans enter as a No. 7 seed.
Blackshear overcame foul trouble and a bloody nose to lead Louisville with 28 points. The Cardinals, the No. 4 seed in the East, finish the season 27-9.