UConn races to 19-point lead before holding off Michigan State late in Sweet 16 win

Second-seeded Connecticut led by as many as 19 in the first half.

Yet, the Huskies had to fight off a deliberate comeback attempt by third-seeded Michigan State and hold on for a 67-63 win in an NCAA East Regional Sweet 16 game Friday night at Capital One Arena.

“The game was almost exactly what we expected, except going up 19,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “I don’t think that was on my bingo card.”

Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. led all scorers with 20 points on 50% shooting, with forward Alex Karaban adding 17 points and seven rebounds. Leesburg, Virginia, native Solo Ball was the other UConn player to reach double figures with 12 points.

UConn is back in the Elite Eight for the third time in four years as it seeks its third national championship in the same span. The Huskies will meet fellow blue blood and top-seeded Duke for the fifth time in the Elite Eight or later Sunday at 5:05 p.m. in the District.

“I think there’s definitely [some familiarity]  because it’s recent enough,” Hurley said. “There’s definitely a belief, and there’s some key contributors, that junior class, [Karaban], obviously a lot of the staff. There’s a lot of continuity and confidence from that.

I don’t know. I think you just get your mind focused on the preparation that we’re going to have to put in for Duke.”

Four of Michigan State’s five starters reached double-digit scoring, led by center Carson Cooper’s 14. Guard Jeremy Fears Jr. and forward Coen Carr tallied 13 points each, along with forward Jaxon Kohler’s 12.

“We bounced back and picked away,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “The goal with 6 minutes left was to be under 10. We were to [down] eight, cut it to six. Our goal in the second half was to play much better. We just kind of wore down.”

Connecticut (32-6) led 25-6 midway through the first half, but a combined 13 points from Kohler and Carr helped the Spartans whittle away at the deficit and only trail by eight at halftime, 35-27.

“We knew they wouldn’t give up,” Karaban said. “They have so many tough guys on that team. A lot of guys have been loyal to the Michigan State program. So we knew they’d battle back.”

A 7-0 run to open the second half got the Spartans within a point at 35-34. The Huskies looked unlike their first-half selves, struggling through a 2-of-9 field goal stretch as Michigan State kept pace.

“We punched them first, they responded, and it’s really just how are we going to respond? How are we going to respond? We put in so much work. Our practices are intense for a reason and really prepare us for these type of moments to respond and really stay together as a team,” Karaban said.

The Spartans took their first lead of the second half after Kohler converted an and-one for a 45-44 lead. But a 10-2 UConn run nudged the Huskies back ahead, 56-49, with 5 minutes left.

“We knew they were going to make a run,” Hurley said. “There was some self-inflicted things that went on with us out there, but we knew they were going to make a run. We knew we were going to have to make plays down the stretch, get stops, make big free throws, make big shots.”

UConn wouldn’t trail the rest of the way, despite the Spartans keeping the margin to five or less. The Spartans’ best chance to tie came down 65-62 with 22 seconds remaining, but a missed three by guard Kur Teng was rebounded by Reed. He made two ensuing foul shots for the final margin.

“The guys around me were like, T, trust. We see you do free-throw game every day. You put in the work every day and we see you at the free-throw line. So I took a deep breath and took my time at the line,” Reed said.

Michigan State (27-8), which was seeking to return to the Elite Eight for the second straight season, falls to 11-6 in the Sweet 16 under Izzo.

“We made a run at it, fell a little short, but all in all, I’ve been blessed to have an incredible couple years with those seniors,” he said. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’m just not lucky enough to be playing on Sunday.”