CHICAGO — Michigan State showed up in the nick of time Friday. Plagued by lackluster shooting, turnovers and poor decisions for nearly 30 minutes, the Big Ten’s defending tournament champs abruptly shifted fortunes, rallying from a 13-point deficit to claim a 59-56 victory over Iowa in the conference quarterfinals at the United Center. “These guys took over, and every one of them made a heroes’ play at the end,” Spartans coach Tom Izzo said of his players. “We found a way to luckily, luckily win.” Michigan State guard Gary Harris calmly hit two free throws with 29 seconds left to pad the lead after the Hawkeyes closed to within a point in the final minute. Iowa’s Roy Devyn Marble missed a last-ditch 3-point attempt with five seconds left in regulation. Michigan State meets Ohio State in Saturday’s semifinals. The Buckeyes advanced with a 71-50 quarterfinal victory over Nebraska. Adreian Payne collected 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Keith Appling and Harris each added 13 for the eighth-…
Continue Reading: Michigan State rallies to reach Big Ten semis (The SportsXchange)
