SPOKANE, Wash. — A career night from Kalin Lucas. A late comeback by Raymar Morgan. And a lane violation, of all things. That’s what it took to keep Michigan State moving on, as difficult seems to be the only way these Spartans know.
Lucas scored a career-high 25 points and Morgan emerged from a quiet night by hitting key shots down the stretch as fifth-seeded Michigan State, uneven as usual, escaped past No. 12 New Mexico State 70-67 on Friday.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the years I’ve been in this tournament, the words ‘survive and advance’ that everybody preaches is the truth,” Spartans coach Tom Izzo said.
The game was a microcosm of an at-times dazzling, other times dumbfounding season for the Spartans (25-8) following a loss to North Carolina in last year’s national championship game.
Morgan had just four points in the game’s first 34 1/2 minutes. But he broke a late tie with four consecutive points after New Mexico State had rallied from 13 down. Then he made two free throws with 18.6 seconds remaining with the aid of that rare lane-violation call.
Official Ray Perone called Troy Gillenwater, who scored 17 points and hit the 3-pointer with 20 seconds left that got New Mexico State (22-12) within 68-67, for stepping into the lane before Morgan’s second shot, a miss with 18.6 seconds to go. Morgan converted his gift second chance.
On the Aggies’ final, frantic possession, Jonathan Gibson missed a long 3-pointer with five seconds left, and Hernst Laroche missed another one that would have tied it with .3 seconds left.
Georgia Tech 64, Oklahoma State 59
MILWAUKEE — Gani Lawal scored 14 points, Derrick Favors came within a rebound of a double-double and the free throw-challenged Yellow Jackets (23-12) scored their last 13 points at the line.
It was a disappointing finish for the Cowboys (22-11) and James Anderson, the nation’s third-leading scorer who was just 3-of-12 for 11 points.
Ohio State 68, Cal-Santa Barbara 51
MILWAUKEE — Jon Diebler scored 23 points and Dallas Lauderdale blocked a career-high eight shots and grabbed 12 rebounds for the second-seeded Buckeyes.
Diebler’s performance was particularly impressive, given the fact he spent the week fighting off flulike symptoms.
“I knew I was going to be fine,” he said. “(Thursday) I felt a little better after the practice — after I threw up.”
Maryland 89, Houston 77
SPOKANE, Wash. — Jordan Williams set career highs with 21 points and 17 rebounds for the Terrapins (24-8), who outrebounded the Cougars 50-29.
