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Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie has his team headed to the Final Four in his first Tournament appearance |
It seemed to be poetic justice when Niels Giffey's first of two free throw attempts rolled around the rim before dropping, all but sealing a UConn victory over the Michigan State Spartans. The Connecticut senior swingman struggled from the field, seeing many of his five missed three point attempts rim out following good looks. The dream run Shabazz Napier has the Huskies on has shades of Kemba Walker's 2011 run to an NCAA Championship. The Connecticut team is headed to it's fifth Final Four since 1999, and first under new coach Kevin Ollie, in his first NCAA Tournament appearance. When asked on court after the game, Ollie described the feeling; "Terrence [has] to slap me to make sure I'm not dreaming."
In a game which saw neither team shooting more than 40% from the field, turnovers ended up costing the Spartans, who saw a nine point lead evaporate midway through the second period. UConn got off to a hot start, building a 12-2 advantage early, while holding Michigan State to one made field goal in the first eight minutes of play. But the Spartans would counter with a stretch of great transition offense, taking their first lead of the game, 22-21, following a made three by sophomore Gary Harris, with 3:27 to go in the first half. MSU would end the first half on a 9-0 run to take a four point lead into the locker room.
In a game which saw neither team shooting more than 40% from the field, turnovers ended up costing the Spartans, who saw a nine point lead evaporate midway through the second period. UConn got off to a hot start, building a 12-2 advantage early, while holding Michigan State to one made field goal in the first eight minutes of play. But the Spartans would counter with a stretch of great transition offense, taking their first lead of the game, 22-21, following a made three by sophomore Gary Harris, with 3:27 to go in the first half. MSU would end the first half on a 9-0 run to take a four point lead into the locker room.
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Scrappy Defense by both side dominated much of Sunday's Elite Eight matchup at the Garden |
The Spartans carried that momentum into the second period, until Connecticut senior Shabazz Napier ended a 16-2 drought with a three pointer at the 16 minute mark. Michigan State turnovers, combined with a staunch UConn defense took away the transition game that the Spartans had built their lead upon. For lengthy stretches in the second half, the Spartans were forced to settle for contested shots late in the shot clock. Despite shooting 5-22 from 3-point land, the Huskies built a 10-point 49-39 lead with 6:30 to go, on clutch 3-pointers from Napier and Ryan Boatright, separated by a Niels Giffey run-out dunk. Napier all but sealed the win by making three of three free throw attempts following Michigan State senior guard Keith Appling's fifth foul with 30.6 seconds remaining in the game. The Connecticut senior collected 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, while going 9-9 from the charity stripe. Next, the Huskies will take on the Florida Gators, who they beat early this season on a Napier buzzer beater, in the National Semifinal on Saturday in Arlington, TX.
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