Michigan State’s Season Ends with 85-76 Loss to Duke in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Greenville, S.C. – Despite fighting back to take a five-point lead with five minutes left, Michigan State could not stop a final Duke run, as the Blue Devils defeated the Spartans in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, 85-76, on Sunday evening at Bon Scours Wellness Arena.

Senior forward Gabe Brown led MSU's three double-figure scorers with 19 points, going 7-for-11 from the field and 4-for-6 from three-point land, while fellow senior forward Marcus Bingham Jr. had his fifth double-double of the season, registering 16 points and 10 rebounds to go with three blocked shots. Junior guard Tyson Walker finished Sunday by recording 13 points and a team-high five assists.

Records
Michigan State ends the season at 23-13 overall, while Duke moves on to the Sweet 16 with a 30-6 record.

Recap

Michigan State trailed by four points, 39-35, at the break and Duke scored the first five points of the half, taking their biggest lead, 44-35, on a three-point play from Paolo Bancheoro in the opening minutes.
The Spartans were down 61-54 near the mid-point before using Bingham 3-pointer to kickstart a 16-4 run over 5:17 to take a 70-65 lead, capping it off with two free throws from Bingham with 5:10 remaining.
Jumpers from Banchero and Jeremy Roach pulled the Blue Devils within one point (70-69), while Trevor Keels hit a 3-pointer at the 3:24 mark to even the score at 72-all after two free throws from redshirt senior forward Joey Hauser.
MSU briefly retook a 74-72 advantage on a jumper from sophomore guard A.J. Hoggard, but Keels made the first shot of a one-and-one opportunity and a Mark Williams block on the other end led to a Banchero jumper in the paint, giving Duke the lead for good at 75-74 with 2:05 to play.
Roach's 3-pointer at 1:16 made it 78-74, and the Blue Devils hit 7-of-8 from the line to close the game despite a late jumper from Walker.
Duke went into the break with a 39-35 lead after a closely-contested half that featured one lead change and four ties and saw neither team lead by more than seven points.
MSU took its biggest lead, 7-2, at the 17:34 mark after a 3-pointer from Hauser and still led by three points, 16-13, on a jumper from freshman guard Max Christie with 12:53 to play.
Duke would go on a 10-0 run and take a 23-16 lead after free throws from Wendell Moore with 7:12 left before the half.
The Spartans responded behind the play of Brown, who scored 14 first-half points, using a 9-2 run and tying the game at 33-all on a 3-pointer from the senior with 1:38 left.
The Blue Devils ended with a pair of baskets from Mike Williams to take the lead at halftime.

Michigan State’s Season Ends with 85-76 Loss to Duke in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Team Stats

Gabe Brown

Marcus Bingham Jr.

Tyson Walker

Max Christie

Players Mentioned

Marcus Bingham Jr.

Gabe Brown

Max Christie

Joey Hauser

A.J. Hoggard

Tyson Walker

Players Mentioned

Marcus Bingham Jr.

Gabe Brown

Max Christie

Joey Hauser

A.J. Hoggard

Tyson Walker