In a thrilling game at Nationwide Arena, the No. 7 seed Michigan State Spartans outlasted a determined effort from the No. 2 seed Marquette Golden Eagles to advance to the Sweet 16. MSU guard Tyson Walker led the way for the Spartans with 23 points, including 15 in the final 8:52 of the game. Walker’s heroics were crucial in a game where MSU struggled from beyond the arc, going just 2-for-16 from 3-point range.
Despite their shooting struggles, the Spartans were able to get the job done on both ends of the court, holding Marquette to just 38.5% shooting and forcing 16 turnovers. MSU’s defense was particularly effective against Marquette’s leading scorer Tyler Kolek, who was limited to just seven points and was responsible for six of his team’s turnovers.
MSU’s win was a significant accomplishment for a program that had not advanced past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament since their 2019 Final Four run. Head coach Tom Izzo, who has now led the Spartans to 15 Sweet 16 appearances in his 25 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, was understandably proud of his team’s performance.
The Spartans now turn their attention to their Sweet 16 matchup against No. 3 seed Kansas State, who defeated No. 6 seed Kentucky on Sunday. The game, which will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York, promises to be another exciting matchup as MSU looks to continue their tournament run.
In the opening minutes of the game, Marquette came out swinging, with Stevie Mitchell picking A.J. Hoggard’s pocket and scoring an easy layup. But Hoggard didn’t let that faze him, as he quickly hit Mady Sissoko for a dunk and drove for a layup on the next possession. With a 3-pointer from Hoggard and a putback from Malik Hall, the Spartans went on an 11-0 run that forced Marquette’s coach, Shaka Smart, to call a timeout.
Despite Marquette’s tough defense, MSU held them without a field goal for over six minutes and turned five offensive rebounds into seven points. However, Marquette refused to back down, turning up their defense and getting some calls to go their way. Hoggard was called for a charge and fouled out of the game in the second half, but MSU managed to hold on to their lead, thanks to some key plays from Tyson Walker and Max Christie.
Marquette made a run in the first half, hitting four of their last six 3-point attempts, but MSU had the edge in paint points and rebounding. With seven rebounds from Joey Hauser and five from Sissoko, the Spartans were able to dominate inside and control the boards.
Despite a valiant effort from Marquette, MSU emerged victorious with a final score of 64-60. The Spartans showed grit and determination throughout the game, overcoming a tough opponent and some adversity to come out on top.
