SPOKANE, Wash. – Jake Layman scored a season-high 27 points and Melo Trimble had 15 of his 19 points in the first half as fifth-seeded Maryland built leads as large as 18 points before holding off 12th-seeded South Dakota State for a 79-74 victory in a first-round game.
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That’s why Middle Tennessee State’s win on Friday might have been the biggest upset in NCAA tournament history.
No, Michigan State and Tom Izzo in March. Middle Tennessee will take on No. 10 seeded Syracuse (20-13) Sunday in St. Louis.
“When we started scouting, there’s no question they are one of the teams that (had) a chance to win a national championship”, Davis said. And down the stretch when I’m sure nearly everyone – including myself – was expecting the Raiders to wilt under the pressure of pulling off such a monumental upset, they continued to be aggressive and simultaneously played with more composure than Michigan State. In the postgame news conference, three Blue Raiders showed few signs of a winner’s radiance except for the earrings that shimmered in Perrin Buford’s ears. The last time it happened was 2013, when Georgetown lost to Florida Gulf Coast.
The reverse side of that is that while MTSU certainly shot the ball exceptionally well, they also had a lot of good looks, especially early. Part of it had to do with the experience of Denzel Valentine and the seniors, and part of it had to do with Izzo’s postseason pedigree.
“I’m more mad and disappointed because I know what this team could accomplish”, Valentine said.
Giddy Potts is the best three point shooter in the nation and as a team the Blue Raiders make 39 percent so while the outcome of the game is a surprise, MTSU’s lights out shooting should not be.
The No. 15 seed Spartans got beat in the first round of the tournament by the No. 15 seed Blue Raiders, 90-81. From that point forward, it seemed like Michigan State was trying to hit a home run on offense. Vitto Brown’s 3-pointer with 2:34 left gave the Badgers the lead for good and they held off Pittsburgh in a first-round East Regional matchup at Scottrade Center.
Busted on Day 2 of the first round of the tournament. Players realize that this time of the year there can be no off games.
“I think that people realize we’re the real deal”, said Stephen F. Austin star Thomas Walkup, who could just as easily be speaking for underappreciated teams everywhere.
“I’d say the mood in the locker room is definitely excited”, he said, a grin forming ever so slightly. Both teams in this game are not the only ones going through some of that.
Michigan State shot great, 55.6 percent, nearly an identical number to Middle Tennessee State’s scorching performance.
In the end Valentine finishes his career at Michigan State 11 in points, ninth in rebounds, and third in assists in school history.
Relying on the same balanced scoring that carried them to the NCAA tournament, the No. 15 seed Blue Raiders ended the second-seeded Spartans’ title hopes in convincing fashion Friday.
Luckily for Clemmons, Iowa came back in overtime and won on a last-second tip-in by Adam Woodbury to win the game 72-70.
Stay on topic – This helps keep the thread focused on the discussion at hand.
So if it’s upsets you were looking for, this is your lucky weekend.
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Be Civil – It’s OK to have a difference in opinion but there’s no need to be a jerk.
