NCAA Tournament Live Blog: Michigan State Ends Dream for Northern Iowa

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Mar 26, 2010

NCAA Tournament Live Blog: Michigan State Ends Dream for Northern Iowa Final, Michigan State 59-52: Northern Iowa played a very good game, but it was not meant to be. Tom Izzo and Michigan State will advance to yet another Elite Eight. Michigan State was able to use some clutch shooting to pull out the victory.

New year, same story: Michigan State moves on. The Spartans will face Tennessee on Sunday for a chance to go to Indianapolis for the Final Four.


Final, Michigan State 59-52: That’s all she wrote. Michigan State has advanced to the Elite Eight.


Second half, 0:14, Michigan State 57-51: Northern Iowa is at the line, but it could be too little too late. The Panthers are going to need a steal or some terrible free throw shooting to pull this one out. It looks good for the Spartans.


Second half, 0:20, Michigan State 57-51: Michigan State’s offensive rebounding just struck. They ran the clock down and took a poor shot. But Draymond Green kept the ball alive and the Spartans put the miss back for two. UNI needs a miracle.


Second half, 0:53, Michigan State 55-51: Michigan State calls a timeout. They need to milk some clock here, but they also need a good look. A bucket here would be big.


Second half, 1:23, Michigan State 55-51: Korie Lucious makes another tough shot for the Spartans. After going more than four minutes without a bucket, Michigan State scores on two straight difficult shots.


Second half, 1:55, Michigan State 53-51: Raymar Morgan with a very difficult conversion down low. Adam Koch is back at the line — he missed both.


Second half, 2:32, 51-51: Oh, Ali Farokhmanesh missed a driving layup, but Adam Koch is there to clean it up. Koch converts two free throws and we are tied up.


Second half, 3:17, Michigan State 51-49: The Spartans do not have anyone who looks like they want to step up. There is way too much time left to go into a shell. Meanwhile, UNI has several players who want to take control. The Panthers have missed a few decent looks, but Adam Koch did have a nice drive to the bucket.


Second half, 4:32, Michigan State 51-47: No one from Michigan State seems like they want to take a shot. Someone is going to need to step up.


Second half, 5:26, Michigan State 51-47: Northern Iowa has just not had the touch from 3-point land. It is 4-for-13 from beyond the arc.


Second half, 6:43, Michigan State 49-47: Michigan State is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country, but it has only three so far in this one. Great work by Northern Iowa on the glass.


Second half, 6:54, Michigan State 47-46: A great answer by Michigan State. Summers with another 3-pointer. He now has 19 for the Spartans.


Second half, 7:47, 44-44: Tied up again. UNI is really playing tough down the stretch.


Second half, 9:56, Michigan State 43-42: Jake Koch with a nice block. The Koch brothers are having a nice game. They have combined for 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting.


Second half, 11:56, Michigan State 43-39: Northern Iowa is still doing well on the glass, but it is only 3-for-10 from beyond the arc. The Spartans are doing much better from long distance as they are 6-for-14. I figured UNI would need to win this battle in order to win the game.


Second half, 12:11, Michigan State 43-39: The Spartans offense is a touch more effective in this second half, but UNI is not going away. Kwadzo Ahelegbe just hit a nice jumper at the elbow.


Second half, 12:41, Michigan State 43-37: Wow, Northern Iowa’s Ali Farokhmanesh has missed three free throws this game. He missed only seven all season.


Second half, 13:15, Michigan State 41-36: If UNI pulls this out, that would mean both Elite Eight teams from the Midwest would be there for the first time. But Michigan State has other ideas.


Second half, 14:09, Michigan State 38-34: Durrell Summers continues to pick up the scoring load for Michigan State. He has 16 points now and flushing an alley-oop.


Second half, 15:12, Michigan State 36-34: Never count out Tom Izzo. Even without their best player, his Spartan squad is battling.


Second half, 15:28, Michigan State 36-34: Whatever Tom Izzo said at halftime worked. In less than five minutes the Spartans have outscored UNI 14-5. Can the Panthers answer?


Second half, 15:53, Michigan State 36-34: The Spartans have scored on all six of their possessions to open the second half.


Second half, 16:30, 34-34: Michigan State with a great run to open up the second half. We are tied at 34.


End of first half, Northern Iowa 29-22: UNI bangs a jumper at the buzzer. Michigan State had only two offensive rebounds in the entire first half.


Northern Iowa also held Michigan State to only one field goal in the last 9:18. Amazing. The Panthers have looked much better than the Spartans during the first half.


First half, 0:47, Northern Iowa 27-22: A low scoring first half, but I am not sure who that favors. Without Kalin Lucas, it certainly looks like Northern Iowa is more talented than Michigan State. The Spartans have more athletes, so I guess the slower pace favors the more talented Panthers.


First half, 1:03, Northern Iowa 27-22: Eglseder is a tough matchup on the block. He now has six points and just broke up an alley-oop attempt.


First half, 2:53, Northern Iowa 25-22: Northern Iowa is holding it’s own on the boards. That will be extremely important for the Panthers.


First half, 3:56, Northern Iowa 23-20: Remember, the winner of this one squares off against No. 6 seed Tennessee on Sunday. Both of these teams have a great opportunity to make it to Indianapolis.


Wasn’t the Midwest supposed to be the hardest region? Who would have thought a team like Northern Iowa or Tennessee could come out of it?


First half, 4:02, Northern Iowa 23-20: This first half is absolutely flying by. Michigan State’s Durrell Summers continues his hot shooting in this Tournament. He now has 11 points.


First half, 6:08, Northern Iowa 18-17: UNI misses another open 3-pointer. Northern Iowa is now 1-for-6 from beyond the arc.


First half, 7:23, Northern Iowa 18-17: 19 players have already appeared in this game, expect great energy throughout.


First half, 7:58, 16-16: Northern Iowa is only 1-for-5 from beyond the arc, including missing a few quality looks. It will need to convert those if it wants to move on.


First half, 7:49, 16-16: How did Northern Iowa’s seven footer not end up at a bigger school. Eglseder has a lot of talent to go along with the big body. He has four early points for the Panthers.


First half, 7:58, 16-16: 31 years ago tonight, Magic Johnson and Michigan State defeated Larry Bird and Indiana State to win the NCAA Tournament. This year’s Spartan squad is not nearly as talented, but they are feisty.


First half, 10:06, Michigan State 14-12: Michigan State loves to create turnovers and score in transition. However, in the half court, the Spartans are actually a very patient team.


First half, 11:19, Michigan State 14-12: Northern Iowa already with four turnovers. That is something we will need to keep an eye on. The Panthers cannot allow Michigan State to get out running and get easy looks in transition.


First half, 11:19, Michigan State 14-12: Michigan State has tightened up its defense. It has also gotten a few easy looks on the offensive end. But UNI is about to make another change. It looks like the Panthers are bringing their four starters back onto the floor.


First half, 12:34, Northern Iowa 12-10: Another substitution for UNI. That is the 10th Panther to step on the floor. Northern Iowa goes just as deep as Michigan State.


First half, 13:18, Northern Iowa 12-10: This is Northern Iowa’s first time in the Sweet Sixteen, but they look very comfortable early.


First half, 14:21, Northern Iowa 12-10: CBS will be covering the game between Duke and Purdue, but I will be giving you a detailed analysis of this one.


First half, 14:23, Northern Iowa 12-8: Adam Koch has struggled over the past three games, but he is off to a great start. The reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year already has nine points.


First half, 15:13, Northern Iowa 9-8: Quick start offensively for the Panthers. And look at this, UNI is about to make a line change with four fresh bodies about to check in.


First half, 17:21, Northern Iowa 5-0: By beating Kansas, Northern Iowa has proven that they can beat anyone in the country. CBS just showed Ali Farokhmanesh’s father in the crowd. His father looks like Borat. I love it!


First half, 18:09, Northern Iowa 4-0: Immediately we see that Michigan State has changed because of Northern Iowa. The Spartans start Derrick Nix to try and contain Northern Iowa seven-footer Jordan Eglseder.


9:41 p.m.: Can Northern Iowa knock off perennial powers Kansas and Michigan State back-to-back? We will find out soon enough, as these two teams are about to tip off in St. Louis. The winner will advance to play Tennessee in the Elite Eight of the Midwest Region.


8:01 a.m.: Does the slipper still fit for No. 9 Northern Iowa? After its unbelievable upset over the NCAA Tournament’s overall No. 1 seed Kansas, the Panthers will see if they can keep their magical run going against Michigan State.


After two close victories, head coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans find themselves in familiar territory, the Sweet 16. The only problem is that star point guard Kalin Lucas ruptured his Achilles’ tendon during their win over Maryland.


Northern Iowa has the upset of the tournament so far. Everyone expected Kansas to just roll into the Elite Eight, if not the Final Four. Much like Michigan State, both of Northern Iowa’s victories were by small margins. But in this tournament, it’s all about surviving and advancing.


Northern Iowa has a bevy of quality players, on the wing as well as down low. It has proven it can beat any team in the country. Meanwhile, Michigan State just lost its best player for the remainder of the season. You tell me who the favorite is.

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