CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 21: Coen Carr #55 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after his basket with Tre Holloman #5 and Jeremy Fears Jr. #1 during the first half against the Bryant University Bulldogs in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 21, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.

No. 2 Michigan State cruises past No. 15 Bryant to open NCAA tourney

The Associated Press
1 year ago
Nick Cammett / Getty Images Sport / Getty

CLEVELAND (AP) — Coen Carr had 18 points and nine rebounds, and second-seeded Michigan State rolled to a 87-62 victory over No. 15 seed Bryant on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Jase Richardson added 15 points for coach Tom Izzo's Spartans (28-6), who trailed for most of the first 15 minutes before taking control.

Michigan State, which has one of the deepest squads in the 68-team field, had five players score in double figures.

Michigan State will face 10th-seeded New Mexico on Sunday in the second round of the South Region. The Lobos advanced with a 75-66 victory over Marquette.

Rafael Pinzon led Bryant (23-12) with 21 points and Earl Timberlake scored 14.

The Bulldogs scored the game's first five points and stuck with the Spartans for most of the first half. Keyshawn Mitchell's 3-pointer put the Bulldogs up 24-21 before Michigan State responded with a 10-0 run. Carr had the first five points in the burst and scored 15 points in the first half.

Up next

The Spartans will face a team from New Mexico for the second time in the NCAA Tournament. They defeated New Mexico State in the first round in 2010.

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