MSU Loses Tough One To UCLA
TAMPA, Fla. (WWJ/AP) - Michigan State made it a game in the final minute but fall to UCLA Bruins 78-76, during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament Thursday night.
In a game that started poorly for the Spartans and looked as if it would end in the abyss - Michigan State came within one point in the final seconds of the game.
Draymond Green led Michigan State (19-15) with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Durrell Summers added 15 and Kalin Lucas finished with 11 after going the first 32 minutes without scoring.
Tyler Honeycutt and Malcolm Lee scored 16 points apiece and seventh-seeded UCLA held off a late comeback by No. 10 seed Michigan State.
The Bruins (23-10) won despite missing 17 free throws, nine of them in the final 3:40 while the Spartans were making a barrage of 3-pointers to get back into the game.
UCLA led 42-24 at the half and by as many as 23 in the second half before nearly letting the game slip away against a team hoping to make an improbable run in the tournament to a third consecutive Final Four.
The Bruins were 30 of 47 from the foul line and only made two field goals over the final eight minutes.
The Bruins advanced to a third-round matchup against No. 2 seed Florida, which beat 15th- seeded UC Santa Barbara 79-51.
(Copyright 2011 WWJ Newsradio 950. All Rights Reserved.) (Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Right Reserved.)
