Sweet Lucious
Pushing beyond all obstacles, the Spartans beat buzzer to defeat Maryland, 85-83
MSU head coach Tom Izzo, right, embraces sophomore guard Korie Lucious, who hit a game-winning 3-pointer to give the MSU men’s basketball team a 85-83 win over Maryland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and advance the Spartans to the Sweet 16.
Tweet
Spokane, Wash. — The Spartans had lost their fearless leader and a 16-point lead, senior forward Raymar Morgan had lost a tooth and the Spartans were seconds away from losing their season Sunday in Spokane, Wash.
Then Korie Lucious came to the rescue.
Just when it seemed all was lost, the sophomore guard hit a 3-point shot as time expired and No. 5-seed MSU defeated No. 4-seed Maryland, 85-83, sending the Spartans (26-8) to St. Louis for their third consecutive Sweet 16.
On Friday, the Spartans will take on No. 9-seed Northern Iowa, which defeated No. 1-overall seed Kansas on Saturday.
“With a minute and a half, two minutes left, I told my team when we were up four or six, ‘We’ll win this game. It’s going to be one of the greatest wins in the history of Michigan State,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but if you know what we went through, as far as today with (junior guard Kalin Lucas) out, and (sophomore forward Delvon Roe) just had nothing left, and these guys having to play a lot of minutes, and it just seemed like it was one thing after another.”
Gallery: Men's basketball ...
The game was a microcosm of the entire season — blown leads, lapses in focus, injuries and fights to the finish.
Lucas, already nursing a sore right ankle, likely tore his Achilles tendon in his left foot with two minutes to play in the first half after coming down awkwardly after a shot attempt.
With Lucas down, Lucious stepped into the forefront at point guard.
“We always preach about being family, being together and sticking together through thick and thin no matter what it is, through the good and the bad,” Lucious said. “When Kalin went down, we all rallied around him and told him, ‘Hey, no matter with or without you, we got your back, and we’re going to get this win for you.’”
Lucious finished with 13 points and two assists in 27 minutes, including 19 in the second half.
The Spartans took a 48-39 lead into halftime and opened up a 16-point lead with 12 minutes to play thanks to the heroics of junior guard Durrell Summers, who tied a career high with 26 points and scored 14 of MSU’s first 17 to open the second half.
But once Summers and sophomore forward Draymond Green each picked up their fourth foul within seconds of each other with 6:19 to play, Maryland turned up the pressure.
The Terrapins went on a 19-6 run to take their first lead of the game, 81-80, on a drive by guard Greivis Vasquez with 35 seconds remaining. Vasquez led the Terrapins with 26 points, including 10 of their final 12.
After a jump shot by Green returned the lead to MSU, Vasquez made a runner with six seconds remaining to put Maryland up 83-82.
“I thought we had the game won,” Vasquez said.
The Spartans didn’t call a timeout as Green took the ball up the court and passed it to Lucious, who won the game with a three.
“I had the open look and (Green) hit me so I just tried to get it up and it went in,” Lucious said.
After Lucious’ game-winning shot went in, the team, coaches, managers and even Sparty, jumped into the celebration pile.
“That just shows how close we are as a university,” Lucious said. “We all got each other’s back, and we were happy to get the win.”
Commentary
Add your $0.02, go to the comment form or follow the comment feed
Mark
(03/21/10 5:17pm)Report
We need some fast healers! Go State!!
NYC Spartan
(03/21/10 5:19pm)Report
Proud to bleed green!! Spartans forever!!!
TrollsBeGone
(03/21/10 5:23pm)Report
All credit to Summers and Lucious – stepped up BIG TIME! Go Green!
B. Water
(03/21/10 5:26pm)Report
Love my Spartans—However, very disappointed the way they handled Maryland’s F/C press. Sure MSU’s talent pool was somewhat depleted, but a team of their caliber should have performed better against this typical type of offensive play. Interested in what I missed about their so-so response—couldn’t handle pressure, old Sparty problem of inconsistency?
Shortjer
(03/21/10 5:26pm)Report
Give Green his credit too
student
(03/21/10 5:41pm)Report
I hope they pass the health care bill before the next game Tom Izzo can hire all the doctors in the US to get the players healthy and still don’t have to pay for it.
great game
(03/21/10 5:44pm)Report
Wow. that was an amazing shot by Lucious. Summers, Morgan, and Green, among others, stepped up also.
But I have to agree with b. waters. Their full court press crushed us.
deckape
(03/21/10 6:39pm)Report
@ B. Water…you’re a jagoff….yes the end of the game was tenuous, but consider that the backcourt was decimated..Austin Thorton becomes an integral part of the offense….that’ never good…BUT (hey won the friggin’ game!
old Spartan
(03/21/10 6:43pm)Report
I’m sitting my office with my Michigan State College pennant glad we still are playing. Sparty ON !!!
B. Water
(03/21/10 7:13pm)Report
deckape, you’re the jagoff—
Yes, I was screaming at the top of my lungs at the end of this game. However, your excuse is lame—a renowned b-ball power like MSU shouldn’t repeatedly fall prey to the same opponent offensive strategy.
deckape, i concur
(03/21/10 7:39pm)Report
b water dont be a killjoy, look at the injuries and backcourt they had to deal with, our bigs on the court did the best they could with what they were dealt with. We won this game with too much adversity for you to downplay it with a comment like that.
Bill
(03/21/10 8:16pm)Report
Great game by the Spartans who persevered with injuries, tooth chips, bad knees, etc. But I do agree with B Walter that they should have been WAY more efficient breaking the same full court press time after time. If you are a division 1 basketball player on a scholarship, you should be able to consistently be able protect the ball and beat the press. Simple as that. Also after the 10th time throwing the ball to the sidelines and getting in a position where you are immediately trapped and throwing the ball away, IZZO might want to draw up a new press break…Just Maybe. However it was a gusty performance and they definitely showed heart today! Go Green!
Sean Cook
(03/21/10 8:48pm)Report
Way to go Lauren! Great photo.
Shawn #2
(03/21/10 9:14pm)Report
Agreed – awesome pic.
greengrandemaestro
(03/21/10 10:18pm)Report
Without a doubt, one of the greatest wins in MSU history—meet me in St. Louis!
PeteMSU
(03/21/10 10:37pm)Report
What a win! Can’t believe the refs ignored Izzo’s call for a timeout right before Luscio threw up that insanely lucky, eyes-closed, wounded-duck of a toss. The wrong team wins again but we’ll take it.
KJ Green
(03/21/10 10:43pm)Report
Good grief. Even a great win can’t satisfy the glass-is- half-empty faction.
Yes, the Spartans made this a nailbiter after squandering a significant lead. Yes, it would have been nice to have handled the Maryland press with a bit more ease. Yes, MSU could have just as easily have lost the game, had their last second shot clanged off the rim.
*However”,
1. They won.
2. They built a significant lead on the strength of great shooting by a player who played up to his athleticism and potential (Summers).
3. They won without their statistical leader in a number of categories (Lucas) including minutes played and points.
4. They won without two of their primary ball handlers playing most of the game, subjecting Luscious and his teammates to the smothering press without two of their best ball handlers.
5. They beat an excellent Maryland team, with an outstanding player (Vasquez).
6. They appear to have arrived as a team.
***
Once again, The Spartans have to overcome adversity with the current health of the team. However, unlike many of the naysayers commenting throughout the season, if anyone can do it, Izzo can. I can’t wait to see what he cooks up for the next game, with or without Lucas/Allen.
In closing, other than Green’s basket near the end of the game and Luscious’ game winner, I was struck by a couple of items:
1. The confidence Izzo placed in the players’ hands at the end of the game by not calling a timeout after Maryland scored, and
2. Wondering how close the ball was to hitting Roe in the head as it was passed to Luscious (did you see him duck just in time?).
GREAT GAME!
Musicman
(03/21/10 11:57pm)Report
Call it Destiny! Ten years ago we did in Nap town…Histoy does repeat itself!!
Ryan
(03/22/10 12:28am)Report
@PeteMSU… What do you mean the wrong team wins again? We were winning the entire game and Maryland almost stole it from us. If Maryland would have won- the wrong team would have won. They were getting beat the entire game.
I agree though, great win and GO STATE!
Chemist
(03/22/10 12:42am)Report
What a thriller!
Kudos to the whole team and those Spartans who stood behind the team during the game.
Awesome!
Joshua Vincent
(03/22/10 1:33am)Report
That was pretty much the dopest game I’ve ever seen!
Go Green!
Go White!
Go STATE!
IzzoForPope
(03/22/10 7:24am)Report
I would have to agree with
Ryan aboutPeteMSU…we were ahead most of the game (by double digits), handled the press for almost the whole game AND had 3 major players injured..the most deserving team won my friend.Awesome Blossom
(03/22/10 8:16am)Report
MSU basketball SO makes up for MSU football!
Matt Bell
(03/22/10 8:38am)Report
I’m not sure if all you “basketball experts” know it or not, but the reason teams run the press is because it works.
Pressing causes turnovers. If it didn’t work a good chunk of the time, no one would use it. No team can break the press every time but our boys did okay.
Why do I say that? They won.
Wildiewill
(03/22/10 9:26am)Report
I’d like to thank Delvon Roe for ducking at the last second. !!! Quick Thinking !!!