Spartans Knock Off Sooners, 62-58, To Reach Elite Eight

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Denzel Valentine scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half to lead Michigan State to a 62-58 win over Oklahoma in an NCAA Tournament East Regional semifinal on Friday night.

Counted out for nearly done in February, the Tom Izzo-coached Spartans (26-11) are instead headed to the Elite Eight for the second straight year and fourth time since 2009. And they're going as a seventh-seeded team that knocked off the third-seeded Sooners (24-11), a week after knocking off No. 2 Virginia.

Travis Trice led the Spartans with 24 points, while Branden Dawson had 11 rebounds.

Buddy Hield led the Sooners with 21 points.

Michigan State is the lowest-seeded team still in the tournament, and advances to face Louisville on Sunday.

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