This game was all too familiar for both teams. They met last year in the Sweet 16 with the Cavaliers getting the best of the Spartans. The air exuberated “revenge” for Michigan State as they pined for an upset. They fought early to get a small lead and kept it through the entire game. Michigan State outlasted a Virginia team that just couldn’t seem to get its shots to fall. It wasn’t hard to keep the sub-30-percent-shooting Cavaliers underneath in terms of score. Michigan State wins 60-54 and continues dancing.
Impact Player
Travis Trice gets it here. He lit up the game, scorching 13 points in the first 5 minutes. He finished the game with 23 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and a steal. It wasn’t just the stat line that makes him such an impact player. He also had a dagger he dropped later in the second when Virginia was gaining a small amount of momentum. He knocked down a long 3-pointer to gain a 52-44 lead, all but pushing the game in MSU’s fortune.
Strange, Yet True
Virginia shot 57 field goals which was 17 more times than Michigan State’s 40. Both teams connected on 17 field goals apiece. They just couldn’t connect on the basket. Want an even worse stat? Virginia only hit 2 out of 17 from behind the arc. Lots of number 17s … and none in Virginia’s favor.
Up Next
The Virginia Cavaliers end their season on a sour note at 30-4 while Michigan State plays the winner of the Dayton/Oklahoma game which airs on TNT later tonight.
Dorm Room Hoops 