Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
CHARLOTTE, NC, March 25, 2024 ~ The North Carolina Tarheels defeated the Michigan State Spartans, 85-69, in the second round of this year’s NCAA March Madness Tournament at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Michigan State has never beaten North Carolina in the tournament. However, through the games first 10 minutes, it seemed as if the Spartans were going to pull off the upset. Michigan State got out to a 12-point lead off back-to-back threes made by Tyson Walker.
After Walker’s threes, everything came crashing down for the Spartans. The Tarheels went on a 23-3 run to close out the first half. Michigan State trailed by nine heading into the break, leaving one more half to decide their season’s fate.
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March 25, 2024 ~ It wasn’t the ending to the season that the Spartans had hoped for, as they fell to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament, but Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo says he feels rejuvenated. He talks with 760 WJR‘s Guy Gordon, Lloyd Jackson, Jamie Edmonds, and Steve Courtney about the up-and-down season, and already preparing for next season.
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Final. pic.twitter.com/UtkHYz5VTT
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 23, 2024
(CONTINUED) The Spartans went on a 12-3 run to begin the second half. back-to-back threes from Jaden Akins would bring Michigan State within three. Both teams battled until around the game’s seven-minute mark. North Carolina hit a short 7-0 run that the Spartans were unable to match.
Michigan State ends their season with an overall record of 20-15. Thanks to this year’s tournament appearance, Spartans Head Coach Tom Izzo continued his 26th consecutive year of NCAA Tournament appearances. With Walker and Malik Hall’s college basketball careers officially over, the Michigan State starting five is sure to look different next year.
