Michigan State University Athletics
On This Date: Michigan State Reaches 2000 NCAA Title Game
4/1/2020 4:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. – When Michigan State's men's basketball team beat Wisconsin on April 1, 2000 to reach the NCAA Championship Game, many said the Spartans were turning back the clock.
Michigan State's 53-41 win over Wisconsin – its fourth win over the Badgers of the season – moved the Spartans to within one game of its first national championship since 1979.
The Spartans battled Wisconsin's tough defense and its slowdown offense, "relics from the days before the shot clock and dazzling dunks,"
"We finally broke them down a little bit," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. "They're a tough team."
The road to the national championship game had started with a loss in the NCAA Final Four in 1999.
"It feels good," Mateen Cleaves said. "We've got one more shining moment."
MSU was held to just one field goal over the final 11:42 of the first half, but still went into the break leading by two points, 19-17.
The Spartans then held Wisconsin to just one basket over the first 7:24 of the second half and Morris Peterson scored 10 points during a 13-2 run as the Spartans opened a 32-19 lead.
"You have to give credit to Pete," Cleaves said. "When he is hitting his shots, we just get out of the way."
Michigan State's 53-41 win over Wisconsin – its fourth win over the Badgers of the season – moved the Spartans to within one game of its first national championship since 1979.
The Spartans battled Wisconsin's tough defense and its slowdown offense, "relics from the days before the shot clock and dazzling dunks,"
"We finally broke them down a little bit," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. "They're a tough team."
The road to the national championship game had started with a loss in the NCAA Final Four in 1999.
"It feels good," Mateen Cleaves said. "We've got one more shining moment."
MSU was held to just one field goal over the final 11:42 of the first half, but still went into the break leading by two points, 19-17.
The Spartans then held Wisconsin to just one basket over the first 7:24 of the second half and Morris Peterson scored 10 points during a 13-2 run as the Spartans opened a 32-19 lead.
"You have to give credit to Pete," Cleaves said. "When he is hitting his shots, we just get out of the way."
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