NEW YORK - Branden Dawson had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Michigan State beat top-seeded Virginia 61-59 on Friday night to advance to East Regional final.
INTERACTIVE
The fourth-seeded Spartans (29-8) will play Connecticut (29-8) on Sunday with a Final Four berth at stake. The seventh-seeded Huskies beat third-seeded Iowa State 81-76 earlier Friday.
Michigan State overcame a horrible start to the second half and then withstood a late run by the Cavaliers (30-7) to advance to the regional finals for the eighth time since 1985 - all under Coach Tom Izzo.
Joe Harris and Malcolm Brogdon both had 17 points for Virginia, which became the second No. 1 seed to be eliminated, joining Wichita State.
Adreian Payne had 16 points for Michigan State and his three-pointer with 1:29 left gave the Spartans the lead for good at 54-51. After a miss by Brogdon, the 6-foot-10 Payne turned point guard, finding Dawson with a line drive lob pass for a dunk with 52 seconds to go.
Harris hit a three-pointer with 39 seconds left to bring the Cavaliers within 56-54.
Payne made two free throws with 32 seconds left for a 58-54 lead.
Brogdon hit a three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to bring Virginia within 60-59. Gary Harris made one of two free throws to make it 61-59, and Virginia’s last attempt was well off the mark.
Michigan State came up with a defensive effort that Virginia is known for. The Spartans held the Cavaliers to 35.1 percent shooting (20 of 57), well off the 45.7 percent they shot during the season and nowhere near the 54.3 percent they shot in the two NCAA Tournament games.
Dawson, who averages 11.0 points per game, had a career-high 26 points in the third round victory over Harvard.
Sports, Pages 22 on 03/29/2014