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Big Ten Basketball: With upset win, Michigan State earns trip to final four

By Charlie Lockhart

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after defeating the Duke Blue Devils in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Duke Blue Devils with a score of 68 to 67. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after defeating the Duke Blue Devils in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Duke Blue Devils with a score of 68 to 67. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Big Ten teams have been gifts that keep on giving during the NCAA Tournament, and after the latest nail-biter one will head to the Final Four.

Many thought the talented Duke Blue Devils would dispense of the Big Ten Champion Michigan State Spartans on their way to winning the National Title. Instead they will head home and have to watch the Final Four on TV.

This was a game of runs early on but it became a close battle at the end.

Michigan State got off to a fast start and led 16-9 before Duke got on a roll and scored 21 of the next 26 points.

The Spartans then went on a 13-0 run to end the half.

The second half was a back and forth battle until the end. Michigan State took a late 68-66 lead but Duke had a chance to tie the game when R.J. Barrett was fouled and stepped to the line to shoot two free throws with six seconds to play.

He missed the first but made the second. A nice lead pass to Cassius Winston allowed him to avoid being fouled and he dribbled out the clock to seal the win.

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Zion Williamson led Duke in scoring with 24, R.J. Barrett had 21 and Javin DeLaurier added 10. Michigan State also had three players in double figures, Cassius Winston (20), Xavier Tillman (19) and Kenny Goins (10).

Stats provided by ESPN.com.

Quick Takes:

The Duke freshmen Williamson and Barrett are as good as advertised.

Once again Winston proved why he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year.

Big Ten teams certainly made a nice showing in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Conference teams have won 13 of 20 games, three teams moved on to the Sweet Sixteen and two to the Elite Eight.

Next. A case for College Football Playoff overhaul. dark

And now the Big Ten Champion will be playing in the Final Four. That’s quite a run.

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