Michigan State Pulls Away from Bryant in NCAA Tournament Thriller
Okay, so the second-seeded Michigan State Spartans faced off against the 15th-seeded Bryant Bulldogs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and let me tell you, it wasn’t the blowout everyone expected. They did win, 87-62, but it was a bit of a nail-biter at first. Coen Carr absolutely exploded, though! He dropped a career-high 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Honestly, that kid's a beast. And the rebounding? Brutal. Michigan State totally dominated, 54-29 overall. You wouldn't believe the difference that made.
Bryant, I gotta say, came to play. They were way tougher than I anticipated. Their zone defense was surprisingly effective early on, and their rebounding was relentless. It kept the game close throughout the first half. You know how sometimes things just start slowly? That's exactly what happened.
But Carr's athleticism, and just the Spartans' sheer size and depth inside, started to really wear Bryant down. There was one moment where Bryant's Earl Timberlake took a nasty hit and ended up with a bloody head. Man, that was scary to watch! He was tough as nails, though, finishing with 14 points. And Rafael Pinzon led Bryant with 21 – he played out of his mind. Props to them.
Then came the second half. And wow. That’s when Michigan State's depth really showed. They just unleashed a furious attack on the boards, grabbing a ridiculous 28 rebounds to Bryant’s measly 10. That translated into a crushing 27-6 advantage in second-chance points. It was like they were playing a different sport. Seriously. Jase Richardson chipped in 15 points, Tre Holloman had 14 points and 4 assists – he was everywhere – and Jaden Akins added 11. Plus, they were hitting threes consistently, finishing with 10 total.
So, what's next for these Spartans? They’re moving on to play the 10th-seeded New Mexico Lobos. That's a seriously interesting matchup between coaches Tom Izzo and Richard Pitino – both known for their intense NCAA Tournament experience. It's going to be a battle, that's for sure. Michigan State will be looking to keep the momentum going and try to grab a spot in the Sweet 16. I’ll be watching!
