Syracuse stuns Michigan State to advance to Sweet 16 | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Sunday / December 22.
  • Syracuse stuns Michigan State to advance to Sweet 16

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    Syracuse is going to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and Michigan State is going home.

    Tyus Battle made a huge pullup jumper with 19 seconds left and then more foul shots in the final seconds, and Paschal Chukwu made 1-of-2 foul shots as the No. 11 Orange defeated the No. 3 Spartans, 55-53, in Detroit to advance to a Sweet 16 matchup with Duke on Friday in Omaha, Neb.

    In their only meeting this season, Duke beat Syracuse, 60-44, on Feb. 24 in Durham, N.C.

    Syracuse was the last team in the Big Dance but has now won three straight games to reach the Sweet 16.

    Battle finished with 17 points on 4-of-15 shooting, Oshae Brissett scored 15 and Frank Howard 13 before fouling out.

    Bridges scored 11 points on 4-of-18 shooting in what was likely his final collegiate game. Cassius Winston scored 15 points with 6 assists and Nick Ward had 10 points for Michigan State, which out-rebounded Syracuse, 51-30.

    The 6-foot-6 Bridges is the projected No. 11 pick in the NBA Draft to Charlotte, per ESPN. Jaren Jackson, the 6-11 freshman who managed just 2 points in the game, is the projected No. 3 pick. Neither commented on their NBA Draft plans after the game.

    Michigan State was attempting to join Purdue and Michigan among Big Ten schools already in the Sweet 16.

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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