First Round Recap – Austin Region
WORCESTER, Mass. – Alan Anderson and Paul Davis combined to make four free throws in the final 43 seconds to help Michigan State to an 89-81 win over Old Dominion in first round action.
The final game of the day in Worcester was much like the other three in being a close game, as the largest lead either team had was eight points. Old Dominion led for most of the first 35 minutes of the game, and they temporarily regained it on a layup by Brandon Johnson with 9:48 left and again on a jumper by Isaiah Hunter with 9:04 to play.
The Spartans (23-6) took the lead for good on a layup by Kelvin Torbert with 8:21 left. The Monarchs got the lead down to one on two occasions, but the Spartans had answers every time.
Michigan State shot just under 57 percent from the field and held the Monarchs (28-6) below 43 percent. The Spartans’ big edge was on the fast break, where they had a 20-4 edge.
Anderson led five Spartans in double figures with 15 points, while Davis added 14 and Shannon Brown, Maurice Ager and Torbert each had 13. Alex Loughton led Old Dominion with 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
