NCAA Tournament: Michigan State Basketball vs. UCLA Official Game Thread
Since Michigan State lost to Maryland in the Big Ten tournament, players and coaches have been confined to hotel rooms, per the NCAA COVID-19 protocols.
Following Selection Sunday, MSU moved from one hotel to the next, where they quarantined on Monday.
Aside from team meetings, film study, meals, and practice, athletes spend most of the day in their rooms.
"There are worse things in the world; people have been through a lot more than we have," Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said. "Right now, it's just different. It's not necessarily a bad different."
The longtime Spartan isn't complaining about the situation because he realizes all 68 teams face many of the same challenges.
But it's still something nobody, including Izzo, has ever gone through, even with all his coaching experience.
When MSU tips off against UCLA Thursday night, it will have played one contest in 10 days, which is the exact opposite of how Michigan State finished the regular season.
"It's just been a strange time when you played so many games in two weeks, and now it seems like we haven't played one in two months," said Izzo. "That's the way it is."
It's Game Day
Happy March Madness!
Starters
Media Timeout: MSU 9 UCLA 7
15:58 left in the first half.
Joshua Langford missed a mid-range jumper after MSU opened 4-for-4, and UCLA pulled back within 2-points following a 4-0 run.
Media Timeout: MSU 19 UCLA 15
10:02 left in the first half.
Michigan State attempting to use its size with Bingham, Hauser, and now Sissoko who will check in following the media timeout.
Media Timeout: MSU 28 UCLA 21
7:02 left in the first half.
Malik Hall drives to the basket and is fouled underneath; basket counts. Free-throw pending after timeout, Spartans with a 7-point lead and shooting 60% from the field.
Halftime Stats
Media Timeout: MSU 48 UCLA 45
15:55 left in the second half.
Michigan State's 11-point lead is down to three following a big run by UCLA to start the second half.
Media Timeout: MSU 62 UCLA 55
9:20 left in the second half.
UCLA is getting plenty of clean looks from deep, but Michigan State getting a few jumpers from Henry and Langford to keep a 7-point lead with less than 10-minutes left.
Media Timeout: MSU 64 UCLA 62
6:50 left in the second half.
UCLA pulls within two points thanks to Jaime Jaquez Jr., who continues to lead all scorers with 24-points.
Media Timeout: MSU 72 UCLA 67
4:00 left in the second half.
Overtime: MSU 77 UCLA 77
Michigan State Timeout: UCLA 81 MSU 78
1:23 left in overtime.
Final: UCLA 86 MSU 80
