In an exciting NCAA Tournament clash, Michigan State overcame a sluggish start to secure a place in the Elite Eight, thanks to Jase Richardson’s stellar performance, though Coach Tom Izzo stressed that their eyes are set on the Final Four and beyond. “We don’t celebrate Elite Eights,” Izzo stated. “Our focus is on Final Fours and championships.”
Richardson was instrumental, scoring 24 points, allowing the Spartans to rally against Mississippi in the second half for a 73-70 victory on Friday night. Despite Mississippi’s (24-12) attempts to reach their first-ever Elite Eight, leading by 10 points in the first and nine in the second half, Michigan State (30-6), seeded No. 2 in the South Region, pushed through. Izzo’s squad kept his hopes for a ninth Final Four and a second national title alive, setting up a clash against either No. 1 seed Auburn or Michigan.
Friday’s game began with the Spartans trailing, with the Rebels holding a 29-19 advantage in the first half and widening it to 48-39 in the second. It wasn’t until the Spartans took their first lead at 51-50 with under eight minutes left that hope truly sparked. “We needed more aggression in the first half,” Richardson admitted. “Things opened up for us in the second half.”
Richardson, whose father Jason Richardson also shone at Michigan State and in the NBA, impressed with 6-of-8 shooting and 4-of-6 beyond the arc, crediting his teammates for positioning him for success.
Crucial moments included Jaden Akins’ drive and jumper, establishing a 65-63 lead for Michigan State. After two missed shots by Mississippi’s Dre Davis, Izzo called a timeout with 57 seconds left, revving up his team. This led to Carson Cooper’s layup, extending the lead, though Sean Pedulla trimmed it to two points. Pedulla topped Ole Miss’s scoring with 24 points.
For Ole Miss coach Chris Beard, who was visibly emotional post-game, the loss was bittersweet. “Their effort raised expectations for themselves and the program,” he reflected. This marked only the second Sweet 16 appearance for the Rebels since their 2001 campaign.
Izzo acknowledged Ole Miss’s unexpected strength in rebounding, with the Rebels leading 33-29 overall and a commanding 12-5 on offensive rebounds. “We were supposed to dominate the boards, but they outdid us,” he conceded. Jaemyn Brakefield was a standout with seven rebounds.
Coen Carr contributed 15 points for the Spartans, energizing the team with a left-handed slam that put them ahead 59-58.
Despite the fluctuating leads by the Rebels, the anticipated close contest materialized, with 10 ties during the match and Michigan State’s largest lead being six points at 73-67.
Key takeaways highlighted Michigan State’s strategic call to start Coen Carr, a local athlete from Stockbridge, Georgia, over the taller Szymon Zapala to match Ole Miss’s athleticism. Meanwhile, Ole Miss relied heavily on defensive plays to build their initial lead, including Jaylen Murray’s steal leading to a 3-pointer by Matthew Murrell and a blocked shot from Malik Dia assisting Brakefield for a comfortable cushion, drawing a timeout from Izzo.