DAYTON, Ohio — Mississippi State basketball’s return to March Madness was quick-lived. MSU, in a thrilling recreation filled with operates, fell 60-59 in opposition to Pittsburgh on Tuesday in the Initial Four at College of Dayton Arena.
Mississippi State guard Shakeel Moore had an open up look from over and above the arc with a prospect to get the activity in the closing seconds. Ahead D.J. Jeffries couldn’t get the suggestion-in to slide at the buzzer.
“It was a heck of a appear,” Mississippi Point out mentor Chris Jans explained of Moore’s missed 3. “Fortunately we bought it off brief sufficient the place we experienced at the very least 1 tap at it. I never believe the next one particular was possibly in time, but at that issue it’s all you can inquire for, a prospect – the ball is in the air – to win an NCAA Match match and even now have sufficient time to get a putback.”
Jans’ to start with year at the helm ends in heartbreak with Mississippi Point out returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time because 2019 but failing to progress to the 1st spherical.
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Mississippi State’s warm start off promptly cooled
Number of would count on the nation’s worst 3-position capturing team to make an NCAA Match overall look, but it is element of what has produced MSU’s success all-the-additional astonishing this period. Nonetheless, the game’s very first five minutes sent a various information.
The Bulldogs created four of their very first five attempts from deep to bounce out to a 14-8 direct ahead of the 1st media timeout. Jeffries, who made two of his previous 20 photographs from over and above the arc coming into Tuesday, manufactured a pair in that extend.
Nonetheless, the regulation of averages speedily took above. Mississippi Point out experienced a scoring drought very last nearly six minutes immediately after the scorching begin. The Bulldogs trailed 35-34 at halftime immediately after lacking nine of their previous 10 attempts from deep.
Pittsburgh, the nation’s No. 79 3-stage capturing crew, was 8-of-13 (62%) in the to start with 50 %.
“We showed toughness, resiliency,” Pitt coach Jeff Capel explained. “We had been who we have been all 12 months, and it wasn’t pretty – but it was stunning.”
Pitt without the need of Federiko Federiko
The Panthers were being shorthanded with 6-foot-11 sophomore centre Federiko Federiko sidelined due to a knee injury. Freshman Guillermo Diaz Graham, a 7-foot middle out of Spain, commenced in his place inspite of averaging 10 minutes for each game.
Diaz Graham blocked Tolu Smith’s driving layup endeavor out of bounds with 2.7 seconds left, placing up the remaining sequence.
“I did a block – I do not even know how – with my remaining hand,” the fatigued 6-foot-11 freshman mentioned. “I typically really don’t use my remaining hand. And I blocked it, and I realized it was a major play, so I just enable the vitality go out.”
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Texas A&M-Corpus Christi earns 1st NCAA Tournament win
DAYTON, Ohio – Isaac Mushila experienced 15 factors and 12 rebounds as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi held off Southeast Missouri Point out 75-71 on Tuesday night to make the very first NCAA Tournament gain in program record.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi went 3 of 4 at the free of charge-toss line in the ultimate 15 seconds to ice the video game and advance to play prime-seeded Alabama in the South Area.
“To uncover a way to get, I couldn’t be more enthusiastic and far more happy for all those men, obviously for the metropolis, for the college and all of the Islander fans that are throughout the region watching this video game,” Texas A&M-Corpus Christi mentor Steve Lutz explained. “They’ve obtained to be really thrilled.”
The 16th-seeded Islanders (24-10), winners of the Southland Conference, returned to the Very first 4 for a next straight year and led for all but 23 seconds.
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