Michigan State Powers Past Bryant in NCAA Tournament Opener

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The No. 2 seed Michigan State Spartans dominated the No. 15 seed Bryant Bulldogs with an emphatic 87-62 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night at Rocket Arena. With their victory, the Spartans improved to 28-6, while Bryant concluded its season at 23-12.

Sophomore forward Coen Carr led the charge for Michigan State, scoring a personal best 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds. He was one of five Spartans to score in double digits, showcasing the team’s depth and resilience.

“Coen came in and really ignited us,” said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. “Let’s be fair to them, they came out and punched us right in the mouth.”

Michigan State wasted no time establishing their presence. The Spartans trailed for much of the first half before pulling ahead with a decisive 10-0 run, highlighted by Jase Richardson’s three-pointer that provided Michigan State a 31-24 lead.

The Bulldogs were formidable opponents, opening the game with a 5-0 lead and maintaining competitive play through the first half. However, even with Bryant’s Rafael Pinzon leading the scoring with 21 points, the Bulldogs struggled against Michigan State’s height and tenacity.

“I’m proud of the guys. They did not back down,” said Bryant coach Phil Martelli Jr. “Even when it started to spiral, they were pretty locked in.”

After holding a slim 33-28 lead at halftime, Michigan State exploded in the second half, outscoring Bryant 54-34. Carr was key in this surge, scoring 15 of his 18 points before the break and consistently converting on offensive rebounds. Junior guard Tre Holloman added 14 points and assisted with four critical assists.

The Spartans dominated the boards, amassing 54 rebounds to Bryant’s 29, including a staggering 21 offensive rebounds that translated to a 31-6 advantage in second-chance points. This effort ultimately set the tone for the second half where Michigan State pulled away, highlighted by Akins’ emphatic dunk that pushed the lead to 81-57.

“We didn’t make all the shots, but the second-chance opportunities helped extend our lead,” Richardson noted.

Looking ahead, Michigan State will face No. 10 seed New Mexico, who defeated Marquette earlier, on Sunday at 8:40 p.m. The matchup will be broadcast on TNT.

This victory marks Michigan State’s fourth consecutive advancement to the second round in the NCAA Tournament, aiming to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2023.