Photo: Rick Osentowski ~ IMAGN IMAGES
CLEVELAND, March 22, 2025 ~ No. 2 seed Michigan State basketball, led by a career-high 18 points from junior forward Coen Carr, knocked off No. 15 seed Bryant 87-62 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night in Cleveland. After a slow start, the Spartans used a 20 point second half advantage to end the Bulldogs season.
“They came out and punched us in the mouth, then Coen came in and really ignited us,” head coach Tom Izzo told WJR Correspondent Nick Lundberg after the game. “But the first game of the tournament is the most important.”
Freshman guard Jase Richardson and junior point guard Tre Holloman followed Carr with 15 and 14 points respectively. Both players shot a combined 7-12 from 3-point range. Nine different players reached the scoring column for the green and white, signifying the team’s “Strength in Numbers” motto.
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STILL DANCING pic.twitter.com/KmsUiWaPCh
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 22, 2025
(CONTINUED) MSU dominated down low, out rebounding Bryant 54-29. Carr had nine boards to go along with his 18 points while junior forward Jaxon Kohler and junior center Carson Cooper also grabbed nine rebounds.
The Spartans stifling defense was on full display, holding Bryant to a 37% shooting performance from the field and only a 20.8% rate from beyond the arc.
MSU will move on to the second round of March Madness play No. 10 seed New Mexico on Sunday, March 23 at Rocket Arena. Tipoff is set for 8:40 p.m.
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