Live coverage: MSU can't hit free throws, down 19-17 to Bryant in NCAA Tournament first round

Bulldogs try a zone look out of the timeout but Carr is patient and finds the lane for the spinning layup, then after a couple of offensive rebounds from Bryant, Holloman is called for a foul. Fears’ lob pass to Carr is too high for another MSU turnover, then Evans powers through Fears on the baseline for the dunk. Fears goes up for a layup and is fouled by Mitchell, as Fears again splits his free throws as the Spartans are now 3-for-6 at the line. Bryant takes the lead as Kvonn Cramer spins for the layup, then his blocked shot on Frankie Fidler leads to a Pinzon 3-pointer. Richardson drives and hits the layup plus the foul, but follows it up with another missed layup. Cramer misses a huge two-handed dunk but possession stays with Bryant, as a miss leads to Cramer fouling Akins for his third foul already. Akins goes to the line for the one-and-one opportunity but he misses again, then Withers blocks an Akins 3-pointer. Cooper fouls Timberlake as he falls to the floor and is bleeding from his forehead, WWE style. A timeout is called to tend to Timberlake and all possible blood on the floor. (7:19)

Spartans, Bulldogs locked in tight game with 12-12 tie midway through first half

After the timeout, Fears heads to the free throw line and splits his shots as MSU ties the game up. Holloman knocks down the 3-pointer, but after a bad pass from Carson Cooper leads to a turnover, Connor Withers hits a three right in Fears’ face to tie the game again. Answering back is Coen Carr with a mid-range jumper from the free throw lane, then Rafael Pinzon hits the running floater for another tie. After a travel from Fears, Keyshawn Mitchell is called for a foul while fighting for a rebound as another timeout is called. (11:51)

Bryant starts off hot, Spartans answer but Bulldogs lead 7-6 early

(Start of game) Bryant starts off with a quick five points, as Barry Evans hits the corner three, followed by Earl Timberland making a layup. Timberlake blocks Jaden Akins at the rim but fouls Akins, as the Spartan guard splits his free throws. Akins follows it up with a pull-up 3-pointer, but Timberlake answers back with a tough fadeaway shot. Jaxon Kohler hits a jump hook, then Jeremy Fears attacks the rim in transition and is fouled as we take a TV timeout. (15:35)

Tip-off

Here we go for NCAA Tournament first round action in Cleveland. The Michigan State Spartans are taking on the Bryant Bulldogs, as the Spartans win the tip-off.

Preview

The NCAA Men’s Tournament is back, and so is Michigan State, as the quest for the school’s third NCAA Championship begins when the No. 2-seeded Spartans take on No. 15 Bryant in the First Round of the South Region.

It’s Tom Izzo’s 27th straight time bringing MSU to the big dance, as he still looks for that elusive second national title. The Spartans enter the tournament as the No. 2 Seed in the South Region, their highest seeding since 2019 when they reached the Final Four.

Meanwhile, No. 15 Bryant isn’t one to sleep on. They won both the American East Conference and the conference tournament this year to punch a ticket to just their second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. The Bulldogs enter the tournament hot, going 9-1 in their last 10 games, compared to the Spartans’ 8-2 record.

It’s called March Madness for a reason, however. Three of the last four tournaments have featured a No. 15 seed beating a No. 2 seed as an upset, most recently happening in 2023. Izzo also experienced being on the wrong end of an upset when No. 2 MSU was defeated by No. 15 Middle Tennessee State in 2016.