Michigan State falls in overtime thriller to Kansas State in Sweet 16
The No. 7-seeded Michigan State Spartans fell to the No. 3-seeded Kansas State Wildcats, 98-93, in a razor-thin overtime classic in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.
First-year Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang brought the Wildcats to the Elite Eight on an abundance of back-cuts and assists from his star point guard Markquis Nowell. The New York native's 20 points and 19 assists propelled the Wildcats throughout the contest. The 19 assists were an NCAA Tournament single game record.
Nowell's New York counterpart, Michigan State's, Tyson Walker tied the game at 82 on a drive with five seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Walker settled into his homecoming as the contest drew on, hitting multiple 3-pointers at crucial junctions, including one to put the Spartans up by three points midway through overtime.
The Westbury, New York native's 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range came up short in the Spartans' attempt to keep pace with a Kansas State team that weathered 16 lead changes.
Following an abysmal 12.5% shooting from 3-point range (2-for-16) in the Round of 32 victory over Marquette and a 23.3% average over the first two tournament games, the Spartans recovered from deep on Thursday, going 52% from long-range (13-for-25). Walker made his first 3-pointer of the tournament with under eight minutes left in the first half, following his 23-point performance that closed out the victory over the Golden Eagles on Sunday.
Nowell, following a 27-point, 3-for-8 from 3-point range performance in Kansas State's victory over Kentucky last game, facilitated KSU's scoring early with 10 assists in first half. His lob to Keyontae Johnson opened up the scoring en route to an early 5-0 lead. This would plague MSU all game, including what proved to be the final nail in overtime, as Nowell flippantly hit Johnson for a reverse alley-oop for a two-point lead with under a minute left in the extra period.
Michigan State's Malik Hall then missed the back-end of his trip to the free-throw line immediately after Johnson's score. After another made basket by KSU, the Spartans were forced to attempt a 3-pointer with less than 10 seconds remaining in the extra period. MSU unable to get a shot off, and Nowell glided down the court for a layup as time expired.
MSU snapped its 0-for-5 start to the game the same way it opened up the scoring in the first two tournament games as Mady Sissoko dunked the ball, finishing a lob from A.J. Hoggard. Hoggard led the game with 25 points as he attempted to will MSU over the Wildcats in overtime on multiple finishes at the rim. Hoggard also led the Spartans in assists with six.
Joey Hauser hit his first of two early 3-pointers as he broke MSU's drought from deep to nod the score at 5-5 early. The graduate senior forward continued his efficient start with a floater off the glass to give MSU a slim 19-18 lead with eight minutes to play in the first half.
Hoggard stopped an 8-0 Kansas State run on a pair of free throws to bring it within two points at 30-28 with 3:47 left in the first half. KSU always had a response, however. Nowell hit his first triple to extend it back to five points, a lead that would remain for the waning minutes of the half.
KSU shot 7-of-12 from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes to extend its lead to as much as eight points, and ultimately taking a five-point advantage into halftime. Despite the Wildcats out-shooting MSU 62%-40% to start the game, the Spartans actually had a chance to take the lead as the half came to a close, but Kansas State's Cam Carter extended the barrage from deep with another 3-pointer for a 43-38 lead at half.
MSU won on the offensive boards seven to one in the opening half, but failed to convert on second-chance opportunities (just five second-chance points).
Hauser led the Spartans with 12 points in the opening half as Johnson led the Wildcats and the game with 14. Johnson led the way altogether for KSU as game-deciding dunk brought him to 22 points in total on the night.
Hauser stopped early bleeding in the second half with a 3-pointer to bring KSU's largest lead (nine-point advantage) down to six. Jaden Akins did the same a few possessions later to bring it within five. Kansas State seemed to have a step on Michigan State on every sequence, but MSU made timely shots to keep it within reach.
Nowell rolled his ankle early in the seconf half and MSU took advantage, claiming the lead back at 55-52 with 13:11 left to play on two consecutive Hoggard finishes through contact to cap a 11-2 run for MSU. Nowell returned and immediately threw a prayer off the glass from deep range to tie the game at 55 in what was arguably the play of the night.
Michigan State had gone on its first significant run with Kansas State reeling and its point guard struggling to get back into the game. But KSU was able to take the lead back before Akins responded with a 3-pointer for a 58-57 lead. Seemingly on one leg, Nowell continued to run the show, adding to his assist total and keeping the Wildcats within reach. His assist to Johnson inside claimed the one point lead back with over nine minutes to go.
Walker followed with a huge 3-pointer to reclaim the lead at 67-65 and hit another from deep to stop a 10-0 Wildcats run with over four minutes to play to bring it within four points with 4:36 left on the clock.
Akins blocked Nowell in the lane as MSU and KSU traded misses before Hoggard earned another trip to the line to bring it to 77-75. Ismael Massoud hit a deep 3-pointer for KSU, as he was timely in the second half, giving the Wildcats a five-point lead back at 80-75.
Akins had a response once again from deep, but Nowell followed with a tough mid-range shot to bring it back to a four-point lead before Hall finished a Hoggard miss through contact, but failed to complete the three-point play.
With the Spartans trailing by two, Walker drove down the lane for a finish off the glass to tie the game on the Spartans' final possession of regulation.
In overtime, Kansas State outscored Michigan State 16-11. A corner jumper by Massoud off of an inbound play would put the Wildcats up 96-93 with 17 seconds left.
As mentioned above, MSU was not able to get a final shot off, and Nowell added in a layup as time expired, giving Kansas State the 98-93 victory, and knocking the Spartans out of the tournament.
Michigan State finishes the 2022-2023 season with an overall record of 21-13, and Tom Izzo's 15th career Sweet 16 appearance.