GAME-BY-GAME CAPSULES

FIRST ROUND

Defeated Valparaiso, 65-38

Applying the defensive clamps from the start, Michigan State raced out to a 25-8 lead and never looked back. The Spartans got 15 points and eight assists from Mateen Cleaves.

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SECOND ROUND

Defeated Utah, 73-61

Michigan State, trailing at halftime, opened the second half with a 27-7 run to defeat Utah. Cleaves scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half.

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SWEET 16

Defeated Syracuse, 75-58

Michigan State again trailed at halftime, but scored 17 unanswered points over the last 5:54 of the game.

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ELITE EIGHT

Defeated Iowa State, 75-64

The Spartans trailed by seven points with 5:49 to play, but outscored the Cyclones 23-5 the rest of the way.

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FINAL FOUR

Defeated Wisconsin, 53-41

The Spartans limited the Badgers to one basket through the first 7:24 of the second half in pushing a 19-17 halftime lead to 32-19.

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FINAL

Defeated Florida, 89-76

The Spartans consistently broke the Gators’ vaunted full-court press for easy baskets, and were on target from the perimeter in the half-court game. Michigan State also didn’t allow Florida to get closer than six points in the four minutes that Cleaves was out of the game in the second half because of an ankle injury.