MSU & U-M prevail at the Palace in NCAA's 2nd round

Derrick Nix had 23 points and a career-high 15 rebounds to help power the #3 Michigan State Spartans past the #14 Valparaiso Crusaders, 65-54, in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament out of the Midwest Region.

The Spartans went on a 26-5 run in the first half to take control, and cruised to an easy victory much to the delight of a crowd filled with green-clad fans, who didn't have to travel far from East Lansing to Auburn Hills.

Michigan State (26-8 ) will now play #6 Memphis, who defeated St. Mary's 54-52, this Saturday as the Spartans aim to make it to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in six years.




Later on that evening in the South Region, the #4 Michigan Wolverines advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament with a 71-56 victory over the #13 South Dakota State Jackrabbits. The Wolverines, who led by four at the break, outscored the Jackrabbits by 11 points in the second half to pull away.

U-M shot 51% from the floor in the game, including 45% from behind the arc while holding SDSU to just 44% from the field and 21% from three-point range.

Junior guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and freshman guard Glenn Robinson III led the team in scoring with 21 points apiece, while freshman forward Mitch McGary also contributed in double-digit scoring with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Up next for Michigan will be the #5 VCU (Virginia Commonwealth) Rams, who knocked off #12 Akron, 88-42. The game is set for this Saturday,

OTHER TOURNAMENT ACTION
MIDWEST REGION
#1 Louisville 79, #16 North Carolina A&T 48
#8 Colorado State 84, #9 Missouri 72
#12 Oregon 68, #5 Oklahoma State 55
#4 St. Louis 64, #13 New Mexico State 44

WEST REGION
#1 Gonzaga 64, #16 Southern 58
#9 Wichita State 73, #8 Pittsburgh 55
#6 Arizona 81, #11 Belmont 64
#14 Harvard 68, #3 New Mexico 62

EAST REGION
#12 California 64, #5 UNLV 61
#4 Syracuse 81, #13 Montana 34
#6 Butler 68, #11 Bucknell 56
#3 Marquette 59, #14 Davidson 58