Michigan State's Daring Comeback Sends Them to Sweet 16
CLEVELAND – An all-too-familiar scenario unfolded as Michigan State’s basketball team faced a daunting first half against New Mexico. Jase Richardson struggled to find his rhythm, and the Spartans were visibly off-balance, trailing by 10 points midway through the half. Yet, Coach Tom Izzo and his players didn’t lose their cool, drawing on the same grit and determination that characterized their season. What initially promised to be a high-scoring game instead transformed into a fierce battle for points and continuation in the NCAA tournament.
In a true testament to the team’s depth, MSU found heroes in unexpected places. Szymon Zapala dominated the paint with critical plays, Frankie Fidler launched a scoring surge in the second half, and Carson Cooper crashed the boards relentlessly. They all tenaciously defended against the Lobos. Meanwhile, Richardson performed essential support roles, driving, dishing passes, and intercepting balls, even as he remained scoreless for over 38 minutes. On Sunday night at Rocket Arena, MSU’s No. 2 seed clawed back for a 71-63 triumph, advancing in the NCAA tournament’s South region.
This victory marked Coach Izzo’s 16th Sweet 16 appearance out of 27 consecutive NCAA showings, and his second in three years. Top performers Jaden Akins scored 16 points, Tre Holloman added 14, and Fidler contributed 10, which stepped up against Richardson’s tough night where he only hit one of ten shots. Nonetheless, Richardson poured in six crucial points in the final minutes, aiding MSU (29-6) to win its 10th game out of 11. Their next challenge awaits against 6-seed Mississippi on Friday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Honorable mention All-American point guard Donovan Dent led New Mexico with 14 points and six assists, while Nelly Junior Joseph had 16 points and seven rebounds before fouling out towards the game’s end. Mustapha Amzil added 14 points, though only managed two in the second half. Izzo now boasts a 58-25 record in his 27-year NCAA tenure and 30th season as head coach.
Poor Starts Continue
For the second NCAA game in a row, the seventh-ranked MSU withstood a tough opening. New Mexico started strong, scoring the first seven points and shaking the Spartans. Although they initially handled Dent well, they struggled against Amzil’s versatile offensive approach. The Finnish player hit a hook shot during their opening run, then knocked down a three-pointer and two more layups. Meanwhile, MSU found it difficult to penetrate the Lobos’ defense with perimeter shots.
Once Dent scored at the 9-minute mark, MSU was back in a familiar 10-point deficit. Still, Holloman buoyed the team with a three-pointer and daring drives. Fidler followed by earning free throws after a drive, then connected with Akins for a dunk, sparking a necessary burst of energy for the Spartans. Amzil’s performance continued with a second half-ending three-pointer, totaling 12 points before the break, leaving New Mexico with a superior 11-for-18 field goal record and a nine-point lead.
However, the Spartans tightened their defense, holding the Lobos to just one successful shot in their last ten attempts. Coen Carr, Akins, and Holloman further drove the score up with successful attacks, capped by an alley-oop from Jeremy Fears Jr. to Akins, allowing MSU to notch an 8-0 run and trim the deficit to one. They entered halftime trailing 31-29, their tenth instance out of 14 games finding themselves behind at the break.
Adapting and Adjusting
Flexibility has been a major theme under Izzo’s mentorship, as MSU demonstrated again by adjusting their lineup in the second half. Carr took Kohler’s place on the court while Zapala remained active, unlike previous games. Zapala’s impact was immediate; he hustled for offensive rebounds and tipped in the first basket, boosting the team’s morale early in the half.
Carr maintained the momentum by rejecting a shot, sprinting for a fastbreak opportunity, and earning two points from the charity stripe. Akins further capitalized on a defensive stop, prompting New Mexico coach Richard Pitino to call a timeout, with MSU starting the second half on a 6-0 run and seizing their first lead at 35-31.
As Joseph solidified New Mexico’s paint presence with a layup, sparking an 8-2 retaliation and reclaiming their lead, MSU replied with seven consecutive points. Akins’ crucial three-pointer at 13:12 left forced another timeout from Pitino, with the Spartans climbing to a 44-39 advantage.
Though Joseph regained some ground with a follow-up dunk, cutting the lead to two, foul trouble sent him to the bench shortly after. Fidler seized the moment, scoring six straight points. Richardson then executed a drive, passing to Holloman for a three-pointer, extending MSU’s lead to nine with less than four minutes remaining. Richardson’s decisive steal on an inbound pass, followed by three free throws, secured the Spartans’ edge by a 10-point margin.
In the final trustworthy seconds, Richardson completed a put-back play with a bonus free throw and claimed a defensive rebound to seal the victory. Cooper, effective on the boards, grabbed five of his eight rebounds post-halftime, while Carr added eight points and six rebounds. Zapala’s contribution was solid with four points and five rebounds in just over 10 minutes as every participating Spartan found the scoreboard.