EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Tre Holloman and Frankie Fidler came off the bench to combine for 24 points as Michigan State overcame a two-point halftime deficit to win 71-63 over New Mexico. Tom Izzo is now headed to his 16th Sweet 16 appearance, which is fifth all-time for coaches.

“I’m really proud of my guys coming back around,” Izzo said, referencing the rough first half. “We had some guys that played really well,” says Izzo. He added on his team picking up the offense as Jase Richardson had one made bucket saying, “This says a lot about our team. He’s been an 18-point scorer the past six or seven games. I believe our guys need the credit and not me for what they did.”

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Jaden Akins led the Spartans with 16 points, Holloman had 14, and Fidler 10. Carson Cooper provided eight rebounds, while Coen Carr had eight points and six rebounds. Richardson finished with six points, going 1-of-10 from the floor.

MSU was down by as many as 10 in the first half, trailing 24-14 with 9:10 to go. New Mexico took a nine-point lead, 29-20, with 4:41 left in the half, but MSU finished on a 9-2 run, cutting the lead to two, 31-29, at the half. New Mexico made only two free throws in the final four minutes, missing five shots and turning the ball over three times.

Opening the second half on a 6-2 run for a four-point lead, Szymon Zapala tied the game at 19:00, and Carr put MSU in the lead on two free throws at 18:30, 33-31. New Mexico tied the game at 51 with 7:39 to go, only to see Akins nail a three-pointer 30 seconds later to retake the lead, 54-51. That sparked a 7-0 run as Fidler made it 58-51 at 6:08 on a layup.

Holloman made a three-pointer at 4:33, pushing the lead to nine, 63-54, as neither team scored for over a minute after that. New Mexico scored the next four points, pulling to within five, 63-58, at 2:38, but MSU made five free throws for a 10-point lead, 68-58, with 1:32 to go.

Richardson’s only made basket came with 49 seconds left on a tip for an and-1, giving MSU a 10-point lead, 71-61. New Mexico made one last shot as they couldn’t overcome MSU’s double-digit lead.

MSU now travels to Atlanta to face Ole Miss in the Sweet 16.