SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Coach Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans capped an improbable run to the Final Four with an overtime win.
Wayne Blackshear had 28 points for the Cardinals (27-9) in a game that featured 11 lead changes.
Senior guard Travis Trice scored 17 points and the seventh-seeded Spartans clamped down on defense to pull out a 76-70 victory over fourth-seeded Louisville in a thrilling NCAA Tournament East Regional final Sunday.
The Spartans (28-11), who were nearly counted out of the tournament conversation in February, won for the 12th time in 15 games. It's a run that included them knocking off second-seeded Virginia last weekend and third-seeded Oklahoma in the regional semifinal on Friday.
Michigan State advances to face the winner of the South Regional final between Duke and Gonzaga.
