Jace Richardson scored 24 factors and Michigan State surged previous Mississippi within the second half for a 73-70 victory on Friday night time within the NCAA Event Candy 16.

Ole Miss (24-12) was denied in its bid for its first Elite Eight look regardless of main by 10 factors within the first half and by 9 within the second half.

Michigan State (30-6), the South Area’s No. 2 seed, rallied to maintain alive coach Tom Izzo’s bid for his ninth Closing 4 and second nationwide championship.

Izzo, in his sixteenth Candy 16, earned his 59th NCAA Event win, breaking a tie with Jim Boeheim of Syracuse for fourth all-time.

A drive and brief jumper by Jaden Akins gave Michigan State a 65-63 lead. Following two misses by Rebels guard Dre Davis, Izzo referred to as timeout with 57 seconds remaining after which pumped his fist as he welcomed his gamers again to the bench.

Following the timeout, Carson Cooper’s layup stretched the result in 67-63, the Spartans’ largest lead of the sport. A floater by Ole Miss guard Sean Pedulla, who led the Rebels with 24 factors, reduce the result in two.

Ole Miss was making solely its second Candy 16 look after shedding to Arizona 66-56 and failing to advance to the 2001 Elite Eight.

The Spartans scored the ultimate six factors of the primary half to path 33-31 on the break.

Michigan State took its first lead of the sport at 51-50 on two free throws by Cooper and stretched the benefit to 53-50 on Frankie Fidler’s layup.

Zakai Zeigler had 18 factors and 10 assists, and Tennessee outhustled and outplayed Kentucky on each ends of the court docket in a 78-65 victory Friday night time that despatched the Volunteers to a second consecutive Elite Eight of the NCAA Event.

The second-seeded Vols (30-7) beat their border rival within the first all-Southeastern Convention Candy 16 matchup since 1986.

Chaz Lanier added 17 factors and Jordan Gainey had 16 for the Vols, who misplaced twice to Kentucky within the common season however prevailed on a a lot greater stage this time.

Nobody loved the present at Lucas Oil Stadium greater than Peyton Manning, who was again within the city the place he spent 13 years and gained a Tremendous Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts. The Vols’ most well-known sports activities alum was in a vibrant orange ballcap seated behind the bench as Tennessee ran off with a no-doubt victory within the “Home Peyton Constructed.”

Lamont Butler scored 18 factors to guide first-year coach Mark Pope’s third-seeded Wildcats (24-12), who have been held 20 factors underneath their season scoring common. Their 65 factors matched their fewest in a sport this season.

The Vols did what they did not do of their first two conferences with Kentucky. The Wildcats had shot 12 of 24 on 3-pointers in every of these video games.

It was obvious early the Vols weren’t going to let the Wildcats and their 85-point-per sport offense put up these sort of numbers once more. Kentucky completed 6 of 15 from distance.

The Vols have been in full management by the center of the primary half, utilizing relentless protection and attacking the glass to generate offense and construct a 19-point lead.

Freshman Tahaad Pettiford and senior Denver Jones turned in dazzling performances when it mattered most, rallying top-seeded Auburn to a 78-65 victory over Michigan within the Candy 16 of the NCAA Event on Friday night time.

The Tigers (31-5) worn out a nine-point deficit within the second half, outscoring No. 5 seed Michigan 39-17 over the ultimate 12 1/2 minutes to advance to the Elite Eight for under the third time in class historical past. In addition they turned the fourth Southeastern Convention crew to achieve a regional ultimate, with the SEC becoming a member of the Atlantic Coast Convention (2016) and Massive East (2009) as the one leagues to do this.

Auburn will face Michigan State within the South Area ultimate on Sunday, with a visit to the Closing 4 on the road. The Spartans held off Mississippi 73-70 within the first sport of the night time in Atlanta.

Johni Broome scored 22 factors to associate with 16 rebounds, however it was Pettiford and Jones who took management with Auburn’s season on the brink.

The Wolverines (27-10) constructed their largest lead, 49-38, and appeared headed for his or her most inconceivable efficiency but in a outstanding comeback season underneath first-year coach Dusty Might.

No. 1 Houston survived a late scare due to a final-second shot on a well-designed inbounds play.

After Purdue tied the sport with 35 seconds to go, Houston’s Milos Uzan transformed a layup to safe a 62-60 win.

Uzan led all scorers with 22 factors.

Emanuel Sharp added 17 for the Cougars, with J’wan Roberts chipping in with 5 factors and 12 rebounds.

For Purdue, Flecther Loyer had 16 factors and Trey Kaufman-Renn added 14.