Second Round Recap – Austin Region
WORCESTER, Mass. – Michigan State scored the last eight points of the first half to take the lead for good en route to a 72-61 win over Vermont, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in the last eight years.
The Spartans took full advantage of their depth and athleticism, constantly changing matchups on Vermont stars Taylor Coppenrath and T.J. Sorrentine and getting fast break points on several occasions. The two combined for 42 points, but shot a combined 14-for-26 from the field. Michigan State (24-6) had a 16-2 edge in fast break points.
Sorrentine led Vermont (25-7) with a game-high 26 points, surpassing 2,000 points for his career in his final game.
The first half of the game was close throughout, as neither team led by more than seven points and the lead changed hands eight times. Sorrentine had 16 points in the opening frame, but the 8-0 run to the end the half by the Spartans gave them a 35-28 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Catamounts stayed within striking distance for the first few minutes before the Spartans used a 9-2 run to extend the lead to 50-36. After Vermont got within seven near the ten-minute mark, they got no closer as the Spartans eventually built the lead back up to 14.
Maurice Ager led four Spartans in double figures with 19 points. Kelvin Torbert added 14 points, Alan Anderson had 11 and Paul Davis had 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
