Regional Final Recap – Austin Region
by Neal Heston
Two overtime games on Saturday, a close game between UNC and Wisconsin earlier on Sunday were what Michigan State and Kentucky had to try and top. Sure enough, they managed to do just that. Thanks to a contested 3-pointer at the buzzer by Patrick Sparks, the Wildcats sent the Regional Final into the first overtime.
Michigan State had the game under control early in the first half with a 23-16 advantage. Kentucky bounced back with an 11-0 run to take a 27-23 lead, and the teams exchanged buckets until halftime.
Similar to Friday’s game against Duke, the Spartans came out strong in the second half and grabbed a 40-39 lead. The advantage ballooned to as many as eight midway through the half, but Kentucky fought back to put itself in position to force overtime at the buzzer. Michigan State’s Maurice Ager didn’t want to stop playing in overtime, as his free throw with just more than a minute left tied the game at 81. No team managed to score again, sending the contest into the second extra period.
This time, the Spartans proved to be too much, especially with Kentucky’s Kelenna Azubuike fouling out early in the second overtime period. Alan Anderson nailed two free throws in the final seconds to give Michigan State its final push to St. Louis.
Four Michigan State players scored in double figures, led by Shannon Brown’s 24 points and Ager’s 21. Randolph Morris paced Kentucky with 21 points.
Kentucky has not been to the Final Four since 1998 – Tubby Smith’s first season in the Bluegrass state.
