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Michigan State basketball in March Madness: Watch Tom Izzo get doused in locker room

Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press
·4 min read
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The emotional ride that has been Michigan State basketball this season will continue onto the second week of March Madness.

The 7-seed Spartans (21-12) are dancing to the Sweet 16 after knocking off 2-seed Marquette, 69-60, Sunday in the 2023 NCAA tournament second round at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. It will be MSU's first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2019, and gives coach Tom Izzo the most wins in NCAA tournament history as the lower-seeded team with 16, passing Jim Boeheim.

Izzo, who was teary-eyed to start his on-court postgame interview, was doused with water from his players in the locker room in celebration of the victory.

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MSU was outscored from the 3-point line, 33-6, but Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard each scored clutch late-clock layups on back-to-back possessions for a 60-55 lead with 2:20 left, and Mady Sissoko blocked two shot attempts in the paint. MSU finished the game on a 13-5 run over the final 3:30.

Walker led the Spartans with 23 points and Joey Hauser added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

MSU will meet 3-seed Kansas State (25-9) on Thursday in an East Region semifinal at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The winner moves onto Saturday's Elite 8.

Here's a sampling of reaction from social media, along with game highlights:

READ MORE:Michigan State's Tom Izzo has his sensei back on the road. He's savoring every moment.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State's Tom Izzo strikes again as underdog in NCAA tournament