Spartans start strong but can’t stay with Tar Heels

North Carolina punches Sweet 16 ticket in 85-69 win

For a moment on Saturday, it appeared ninth-seeded Michigan State had a chance.

In the end, though, top-seeded North Carolina was too good for the Spartans to handle as the Tar Heels ended Michigan State’s season with an 85-69 defeat.

The seniors gave it all they had. Tyson Walker had a game-high 24 points, Malik Hall added 17 points and nine rebounds. But Michigan State couldn’t contain Armando Bacot inside and North Carolina’s guards.

RJ Davis had 20 points, Bacot had 18 points and seven rebounds and Harrison Ingram posted 17 points and five 3-pointers to help

North Carolina punch its ticket to the Sweet 16 a year after the Tar Heels missed the Tournament entirely.

Michigan State had it all working in its favor early. The Spartans were playing on another level. They were energized and locked in. Their shots were falling early. Michigan State was out-hustling, out-rebounding and out-doing the Tar Heels in just about every way.

Walker and Hall got going early as the Spartans’ offense was humming and overwhelming the Tar Heels. Even Mady Sissoko made some post-up moves on 6-foot-11 Bacot.

It couldn’t have been going better for Michigan State, who finally looked like the team Izzo believed it would be all season.

Walker hit back-to-back buckets to make it 26-14 with 9:37 left in the first half and stunned a mostly Carolina blue crowd.

But the Spartans crumbled like an aluminum can over the final nine minutes.

Michigan State reverted to its old ways. Turnovers. Defensive lapses. A lengthy scoring drought. It was all too much for the Spartans to overcome.

Michigan State went nearly six minutes as North Carolina started to take over, feeding off the energy provided by a Carolina blue crowd.

Davis and Bacot helped the Tar Heels to a 20-1 run that gave North Carolina an eight-point lead with just over two minutes left.

By halftime, North Carolina was

up 40-31.

Michigan State trimmed the Tar Heels’ lead to two in the second half as Jaden Akins scored eight in roughly 4 ½ minutes, but North Carolina always had answers for the Spartans.

After Ingram launched a 3-pointer, the ball taunted Michigan State as it danced around the rim before sinking in. Izzo called a timeout, with the Spartans down 6957 with 6:21 to play.

The Spartans’ body language as they headed toward the bench said it all. It was over.

CHRIS CARLSON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS North Carolina forward Harrison Ingram, No. 55, vies for the ball with Michigan State center Mady Sissoko, No. 22, and forward Malik Hall, No. 25, during the first half of a secondround college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Saturday, in Charlotte, N.C.