Homefield — March Madness

North Dakota StateNo. 14

Michigan StateNo. 3

FinalTNT

44.6%

25.0%

3PT

REB

AST

58.2%

47.4%

3PT

REB

AST

14-seeds pull off one of the bracket's biggest shocks about once every 7 tournaments. They've won 23 of 160 games (14.4%) since 1985.

Cooper and Carr Dismantle NDSU Before Halftime

Michigan State handled North Dakota State 92-67, building a 20-point first-half cushion that the Bison never had the firepower to close.

Carson Cooper was the anchor from the opening tip, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds while converting 7 of 9 field goals and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in 30 minutes. He did his damage in the paint on both ends, and North Dakota State had no interior answer for him at any point.

Coen Carr gave Michigan State a second creation source, posting 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists on 6-of-8 shooting while staying active defensively with a steal and a block. Cam Ward added 13 points on a perfect 6-for-6 from the field in just 16 minutes off the bench, giving Tom Izzo a clean answer to any depth concerns raised by the absences of Divine Ugochukwu and Kaleb Glenn.

The team-level gap was systemic: Michigan State shot 58.2 percent from the floor against 44.6 percent for NDSU, distributed the ball to the tune of 25 assists on 32 made field goals, and blocked six shots to the Bison's one. North Dakota State's three-point volume, 24 attempts at 25 percent, reflected a team that never found a path inside and paid for it in points.

Game Story

The Michigan State Spartans rolled to a dominant 92-67 victory over the North Dakota State Bison.•Carson Cooper led the way with a double-double, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds.•Michigan State blew the game open with a 45-25 1st half.•Michigan State had a huge shooting edge, shooting 58.2% compared to just 44.6% for North Dakota State.•Michigan State moved the ball beautifully with 25 assists.•Michigan State won the rebounding battle decisively, out-rebounding North Dakota State 35-23.•Michigan State's bench outscored North Dakota State's 27-17.•The Michigan State Spartans rolled to a dominant 92-67 victory over the North Dakota State Bison.•Carson Cooper led the way with a double-double, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds.•Michigan State blew the game open with a 45-25 1st half.•Michigan State had a huge shooting edge, shooting 58.2% compared to just 44.6% for North Dakota State.•Michigan State moved the ball beautifully with 25 assists.•Michigan State won the rebounding battle decisively, out-rebounding North Dakota State 35-23.•Michigan State's bench outscored North Dakota State's 27-17.•