Ole Miss had a double digit lead early in the first half, and an 8 point lead with about 12 minutes to play. But the Big 10 regular season champion fought back. With the game tied and about 1:30 left in the game, senior Jaden Akins drove to the basket with the shot clock running down, and he hit the runner in the lane to give the Spartans a 2 point lead.
Dre Davis missed a jumper from with about a minute to play, got the rebound but could not put the put-back in. On the next possession, Tre Holloman started to make a drive to the basket, drew the defense to him, and found a wide-open Carson Cooper for a layup and a 4 point lead.
Sean Pedulla quickly sprinted down the court and hit a jumper near the lane to cut the lead to 2 points with 33.6 seconds left. As I was thinking during the Ole Miss timeout that they have to try to trap a little and then foul, but they can’t let Michigan State take the clock down to 4 seconds, a pivotal play happened.
The official gave the ball to the Spartans, and based on the Lunatic rewinding and timing, took 5.9 seconds to get the ball in-bounds. Instead of being a turnover, Ole Miss had to foul Jaden Akins who got an outlet pass at mid-court. The senior calmly made the two free throws, and Michigan State was up by 4 again.
The Rebels tried to quickly get the ball down to score, but Jaemyn Brakefield missed a dunk after an athletic drive to the hoop. Fortunately, Pedulla was there to get the rebound and once again cut the lead to 2 points with the layup.
This time, the Spartans get the ball in on time, and Tre Holloman was sent to the line. And Holloman calmly drilled both free throws. Pedulla made a nice stop-drive at the top of the key to get a good look for a three-pointer with 6 seconds, but it missed giving the ball back to the Spartans.
Holloman would hit two more free throws to ice the game, and Matthew Murrell hit a three-pointer from the logo at the buzzer to annoy betters across the country who had the Spartans -3.5 points. But Michigan State spot in the Elite 8 did not matter on the spread – 3 points was enough to send the Spartans to the South regional final.
While I typed this, Tennessee won 78-65 to get revenge on the Kentucky Wildcats, who swept the Volunteers during the regular season. But it is tough to beat a good team three times in the same season, and Tennessee jumped out early and never looked back.
6 games now have seen 2 #1 seeds, 3 #2 seeds and a #3 seed (who was the favorite). If we are going to see an upset in the Elite 8, it is going to have to happen from one of the Big 10 teams playing in the late games, and it will have to happen against either the SEC regular season champion or the Big 12 regular season champion.
The Lunatic is already nervous and freaking out. I have changed from my nice clothes to go out to listen to a string quartet to my Purdue quarter-zip. I have my old Purdue soda mug from when I was a freshman at Tarkington Hall. I am ready!!!!
BOILER UP!!!!!