By Ken Cross
ATLANTA –
Sparty Party – Michigan State slipped past Ole Miss, 73-70, and trailed for over 30 minutes until Carson Cooper made two free throws with 7:50 remaining, giving Michigan State it’s first lead of the evening at 51-50. After Ole Miss gained a 61-59 advantage on a three from Sean Pedulla, Sparty took the lead for good at 65-63 when Jaden Akins drove the lane and Cooper scored on a pass from Tre Holloman for a 67-63 advantage with 40 seconds remaining. Richardson led four Spartans in double figures with 20 points.
Hotty Toddy – Ole Miss led for over 30 minutes and was in control for much of the game. The Rebs took their biggest lead at 29-19 when Jaemyn Brakefield drove the right baseline and made a reverse layup. The turning point of the game could have come at the end of the first half when Richardson and Akins converted Ole Miss turnovers to make a pair of threes inside of the last 1:05 which cut the lead to 33-31. Guard Sean Pedulla led all scorers with 24 points as he scored in the lane and on a layup late in the game.
Key Statistics – Michigan State made 14-of-25 shots in the second half which allowed the Spartans to shoot 50 percent for the game. Holloman scored 10 points as Sparty held a 21-13 advantage in bench scoring. The Rebs outscored Michigan State, 11-3, off the break and 13-6 in second chance points. The Ole Miss defense confused the Spartans’ offensive attack with team speed and quickness as the Rebs accrued eight steals.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo on Ole Miss’s approach: “That team was the toughest, most physical defensive team that we’ve played in years. It reminded me of the old Gene Keady, Clem Haskins teams when I started in this profession. They did a good job. I didn’t think we did a very good job. We got stymied a lot.”
Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard on Michigan State’s 22-10 advantage from the line: “First one to 70 is probably going to win this thing. Baskets were hard to come by for both teams. I thought the free-throw differential in the game … maybe there will be another time and setting to talk about that.”