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Poor shooting derails Michigan State's NCAA tournament dreams in 55-53 loss to Syracuse

MSU dropped to 7-11 all-time against Syracuse. Tom Izzo and the Spartans have lost the past five to Jim Boeheim since beating the Orange in the 2000 Sweet 16 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Miles Bridges could not make a shot. Neither could Joshua Langford or Cassius Winston.

With every miss, Michigan State’s dream of a national championship came closer to crashing to a halt against Syracuse’s zone defense.

And then Winston’s last-gasp, half-court heave smacked off the glass, wide left.

Season over.

The 11-seed Orange stifled the 3-seed Spartans all afternoon Sunday at Little Caesars Arena, and Bridges’ quest for winning it all did not make it out of the second round of the NCAA tournament with a 55-53 defeat against Syracuse.

Box score

The Orange (23-13) advances to face No. 2 seed Duke in Omaha, Neb. on Friday.

The Spartans (30-5) end their season with one of their worst offensisve performances of the season.

Tyus Battle hit a jumper with 47.6 seconds left that gave Syracuse a three-point lead.

Related: Watch Michigan State's Matt McQuaid hit a crazy 3-point buzzer beater

Bridges and Langford missed shots, and MSU could not capitalize on extra possessions until Syracuse intentionally fouled Matt McQuaid, who hit two free throws.

Battle took a long pass with 6.1 seconds left and was fouled by McQuaid, then made both free throws. Winston was fouled with 3.7 seconds left and made both for the Spartans.

Syracuse's Paschal Chukwu made 1-for-2 free throws with 2.4 seconds left, and Winston’s shot to win it at the buzzer missed, like so many others.

MSU shot 25.8 percent (17-for-66), making 9-for-38 shots in the second half. The sophomore trio of Bridges, Winston and Langford combined to shoot 9-for-42 between them.

Winston finished with 15 points, Bridges scored 11 and Nick Ward scored 10. Xavier Tillman grabbed 12 rebounds off the bench, as the Spartans dominated the boards in a losing effort with 29 on the offensive end.

Battle led the Orange with 17 points.

MSU dropped to 7-11 all-time against Syracuse. Tom Izzo and the Spartans have lost the past five to Jim Boeheim since beating the Orange in the 2000 Sweet 16 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

And for the first time in the Izzo, the Spartans failed to make the Sweet 16 for three straight seasons.

Slugfest

Every time it appeared the Spartans would be prepared to overtake the Orange in the second half, Syracuse would bring a counterpunch and get to the free-throw line.

MSU shook off first-half shooting woes to make three 3-pointers in the first 4 1/2 minutes of the second half, including two from Bridges and one from Winston to go ahead 38-32.

The Orange countered and pulled within one thanks to four straight free throws by Oshae Brissett and two from Battle.

Back in front MSU went, with Xavier Tillman’s put-back and Bridges' dunk in transition. Then Syracuse’s Frank Howard fouled out with two whistles seconds apart, and Winston’s free throws with 6:39 remaining and a floating runner a minute later put the Spartans up five.

The Orange answered with an 8-0 run to take the lead. Battle hit two free throws. Then a layup from Brissett, followed by two Marek Dolezaj free throws and another from Bourama Sidible with 4:08 left gave Syracuse a 50-48 edge.

Michigan State's Matt McQuaid celebrates after a buzzer beater 3-pointer during the first half on Sunday, March 18, 2018, at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. (Photo: Nick King/Lansing State Journal)

What’s next

A promising season with big dreams came to an end well short of a national championship for the Spartans, who finished as regular season Big Ten champs. Now come a lot of questions after a season filled with them, none more impacting than the decisions both Bridges and Jackson face of whether to enter the 2018 NBA draft.

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