Michigan State basketball beats Bryant basketball in March Madness

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Bryant starters hug coach Phil Martelli Jr. as they come off the floor

No. 15 Bryant falls to No. 2 Michigan State 87-62 in the NCAA Tournament in Cleveland

Michigan State defeated Bryant 87-62 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.The Spartans dominated the boards, outrebounding the Bulldogs 54-29 and scoring 31 second-chance points.Rafael Pinzon led all scorers with 21 points for Bryant.

CLEVELAND — The backbreaking possession came early in the second half, a few seconds that summed up the difference on this night – on most nights, to be fair – between Bryant and Michigan State. 

Jase Richardson fired a 3-pointer from the right wing that found nothing but net. It was the third attempt for the Spartans on that particular offensive trip, a product of their trademark dominance on the glass. 

The Bulldogs huffed and puffed but simply couldn’t keep pace, and the 17,392 fans that packed Rocket Arena saw a March Madness staple dismiss a relative newcomer to the grand stage. Michigan State pulled away to an 87-62 victory in the South Region and advanced to a Sunday meeting with New Mexico. 

The Spartans grabbed 21 offensive rebounds – more than half of their missed shots from the field – and enjoyed a 31-6 scoring advantage on second chances. They also pitched a 15-0 shutout on the fast break, driven by speedy guards who looked to get down the floor at will. Bryant’s challenges against the Big Ten regular season champions were gradually exposed, and a second NCAA Tournament trip in four years ended suddenly. 

“This hurts for sure,” Bryant coach Phil Martelli Jr. said. “Because the finality of it – you know it’s there, but you just ignore it. You just don’t think it’s ever going to happen, and then it does.  

“That’s what I’ve always struggled with – that final piece of the season.” 

The Bulldogs faced just a 33-28 deficit into halftime but were soon teetering on the brink of elimination. Richardson’s first jumper with 14:12 left was…

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Source link : https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/college/2025/03/22/michigan-state-basketball-beats-bryant-basketball-march-madness-ncaa-mens-tournament/82606409007/

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Publish date : 2025-03-22 11:48:00

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