During their 2000 national title run, Michigan State trailed in their second round game to Utah during the second half. At halftime, MSU led Saint Louis University just 26-21, as SLU shot 5 of 21 from the field, 2 of 11 from three, yet were only down five. SLU even cut the deficit to two inside three minutes to go in the second half.
Michigan State made the runs required to achieve victory though, holding off the Billikens (what the hell is a Billiken?) 65-61. They reached the sweet sixteen in a very sour looking game. It was ugly, grindy and muckish. Just the way, Rick Majerus wanted it.
Former ESPN analyst and the greatest coach in Utah Utes history, Majerus is working his obese mojo with SLU.
Draymond Green, coming off his big triple double Friday night against LIU had a double double today. And he made CLUTCH plays on both ends of the court around the to minute mark to give Spartans fans some breathing room. He hit a very long two to put State up 55-51, and then blocked SLU’s attempt at an inside bucket on the other end. Green’s 22nd double-double today (16 points, 13 rebounds) surpassed Kevin Jones of West Virginia, to rank second in all of college basketball.
Keith Appling’s (who led State with 19 points) 24 foot trey made it 58-51, with just over a minute to play. And that was essentially THE DAGGER. For whatever reason, Thursday/Saturday seems to be the “chalk” days, and Friday/Sunday the “upset” days this year. Yet State survived the tide.
MSU needed to mount furious comebacks versus Syracuse in the sweet sixteen and Iowa State in the elite eight of that glorious tourney run of 2000. So cardiac games seems to be a part of deep MSU runs in March. Past is prologue?
They get Louisville next.
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