Middle Tennessee stuns Michigan State in first round of NCAA Tournament

Middle Tennessee proved once again Friday that March is a time for underdogs to shine.

The Blue Raiders, seeded 15th, grabbed the lead for good a little over a minute into the game and shocked second-seeded Michigan State 90-81 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center.

It marked the eighth time in tournament history that a 15th-seeded team had defeated a second seed, and showed once again that David can still slay Goliath.

“It was a spectacular day for Middle Tennessee State University, the fans and our players,” Blue Raiders coach Kermit Davis said. “Our players did such a tremendous job with our coaches. ... Our guys answered every run.”

Each time the Spartans (29-6) were within a whisker of gaining the momentum, the Blue Raiders (25-9) maintained it. All five of their starters reached double figures, and Middle Tennessee went 11-for-19 on 3-pointers while shooting 56 percent overall (33-for-59).

The Blue Raiders frustrated the Spartans with constantly switching defenses that slowed Michigan State stars like Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes, who were a combined 9-for-23 from the floor.

Valentine had 13 points and 12 of Michigan State’s 20 assists, but he also committed six turnovers and was 5-for-13 from the floor. Forbes, who was benched in the first half after a bad pass, had 14 points and was 4-for-12 from the field.

“It was probably the only team all year that went from 1-3-1 to 2-3 to man,” Valentine said. “And I was frustrated.”

Valentine said the Spartans played “one of the worst games we’ve played all year,” but longtime Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, fighting back tears, credited the Blue Raiders for having the qualities that Izzo has long instilled in his players.

“I thought Middle Tennessee played awfully well,” Izzo said. “They started making 3s fall down from 30 (feet), and they outplayed us. I mean, there’s no way I can put it any differently. They deserved to win. They were very well-coached. They ran good stuff. We just really struggled to guard the smaller guys on the perimeter and struggled to find lineups.”

Key performers

Reggie Upshaw Jr. scored 21 points to lead the Blue Raiders, who also got 19 points from Giddy Potts, 15 points apiece from Darnell Harris and Perrin Buford, and 11 points from Jaqawn Raymond. Upshaw, Harris and Potts each hit three 3-pointers and Raymond made two.

“It’s probably one of the best moments I’ve been able to share with my dad and my brother going through my athletic career,” Upshaw said. “For them to drive all the way up here, seven hours, it really meant a lot just to see them in the crowd. I could tell they were all proud of what I’ve accomplished and what my teammates have accomplished.”

Matt Costello led the Spartans with 22 points and nine rebounds. He was 9-for-10 from the field as he capitalized in the paint against Middle Tennessee’s smaller posts.

Key moment

The Blue Raiders, who opened with a 15-2 lead and were ahead 41-35 at halftime, saw a 54-46 advantage shrivel to 77-76 with 3:34 to play. But they re-established control with a 6-0 spurt culminated by a dunk by Upshaw with 40 seconds remaining off a steal by Raymond.

“I’d say the mood in the locker room is definitely excited,” Upshaw said. “Any time you play a team that’s picked to make a deep run, and even win the national championship, and upset them like we did, you can’t help but be excited.”

Middle Tennessee will face 10th-seeded Syracuse in the second round Sunday.

“It will obviously be a totally different game,” Davis said. “Big zone (by Syracuse). We’ve all watched it. And we scouted it today. The biggest thing is you’ve got to guard them, too. They’ve got some excellent perimeter players. We’ll get right into it.”

Orange fly past Dayton

Tenth-seeded Syracuse led just 30-28 at halftime, but it outscored No. 7 Dayton 40-23 in the second half to advance to the second round.

Malachi Richardson led all scorers with 21 points and made three 3-pointers for the Orange (20-13). Tyler Lydon chipped in with 14 points off the bench, while Trevor Cooney had 13 points and Michael Gbinjie and Tyler Roberson had 10 points apiece. Roberson controlled a game-high 18 rebounds.

The Flyers (25-8) were frigid from the field the entire game, finishing at 32 percent (18-for-56). They also were an unsightly 9-for-19 from the free-throw line (47 percent). Syracuse outrebounded Dayton 48-28. Charles Cooke had 14 points to lead the Flyers.

“I think our rebounding was tremendous,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. “Tyler was great. We eliminated second-shot opportunities, and that’s what has hurt us at times this year.”

Syracuse had last played Dayton in the NCAA Tournament in 2014, falling 55-53 in the third round in Buffalo, N.Y.

“It feels really good,” said Cooney, who had 11 points in the second half. “To win a game in the NCAA Tournament feels good and to beat a team that beat you last time adds a little bit to it.”

Wisconsin advances

The Badgers, seeded seventh, outlasted 10th-seeded Pitt 47-43.

Ethan Happ led Wisconsin (21-12) with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Nigel Hayes dropped in 12 points and Vitto Brown had 11.

Wisconsin won despite shooting a paltry 32 percent from the field (17-for-53). The Panthers (21-12) weren’t much better at 38 percent (18-for-48).

The Badgers will play Weber State or Xavier on Sunday.

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Middle Tennessee stuns Michigan State in first round of NCAA Tournament."