Michigan State knocks off Duke 68-67 to make Final Four
AP
Mar 31, 2019
WASHINGTON (AP) Cassius Winston missed an open jump shot but was right there for the rebound. Without hesitating, he stepped back and swished a 3-pointer.
''Now is not the time to doubt yourself,'' Winston said. ''Now's not the time to shy away from those big moments.''
The biggest moment for Michigan State Spartans is still to come after Winston led the Spartans back to the Final Four for the first time since 2015.
Michigan State beat Duke Blue Devils 68-67 on Sunday to knock the overall top seed out of the NCAA Tournament in what likely was the end of Zion Williamson's college career. Winston took over the game when his team faced its biggest deficit, stealing the show from Williamson with 20 points and 10 assists in a do-it-all performance fittingly with Magic Johnson there to see it.
''I was locked in,'' Winston said with smile and a piece of one of the nets tucked into his Final Four hat. ''I wanted to do everything I could for my team to get us to that point. We've been working way too hard to stop now.''
Winston didn't know how many shots he took but never hesitated to put the ball up. He was 9 of 23 and never shied away from taking it at Duke and shooting at nearly every opportunity in the East Region final.
The Big Ten Player of the Year and East Region Most Outstanding Player made or assisted on 19 of Michigan State's 30 field goals.
''Winston was the difference maker,'' Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. ''He was either scoring or assisting. He's the best guard we've played against.''
Williamson, the presumptive top pick in the NBA Draft and biggest star of this NCAA Tournament, had a game-high 24 points and 14 rebounds. He said it was a ''high possibility'' this was his final game at Duke.
''We're very upset, obviously, but congrats to Michigan State,'' Williamson said. ''Just looking around the locker room and see your teammates, your brothers and you just think this group will probably never play together again.''
Michigan State's veteran-laden team will have another chance Saturday in one regional semifinal against Texas Tech in Minneapolis. Virginia faces Auburn in the other.
''We're not done yet, and it feels good,'' senior guard Matt McQuaid said.
Winston carried the Spartans into the Final Four , but they received a huge boost from their oldest player. Kenny Goins, a fifth-year walk-on senior who missed his first four 3-point attempts, drained the go-ahead shot with 34.3 seconds left to put Michigan State up 68-66.
''I was out there, great pass, trusted it and let it go and it went down,'' said Goins, the only player left from 2015 when Duke beat Michigan State in the Final Four during his redshirt season. ''As soon as I let it go, I knew it was good. I was ready to celebrate, but I knew I had to get back on defense.''
Duke had the chance to tie but freshman star RJ Barrett missed the first of two free throws with 5.2 seconds left. Duke was helpless with only four fouls, and Winston was able to get the ball away from the Duke defenders and dribble out the clock.
''There wasn't enough time, so I tried to miss the second one and it went in,'' Barrett said.
Michigan State is in the Final Four for the eighth time under coach Tom Izzo, who beat Krzyzewski for just the second time in 13 meetings and second time in six NCAA Tournament games. Izzo is in the Final Four for the eighth time in his career and denied Krzyzewski what would have been a record 13th appearance.
As he wiped away tears, Izzo told the crowd, ''I love you all, I appreciate you all. I'll see you in Minneapolis.''
Izzo had to navigate foul trouble to big man Xavier Tillman, who was essential in guarding Williamson and factoring in on the offensive end. Tillman played 29 minutes and scored 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
Duke fell one step short of the Final Four after finally coming out on the losing end of a nail-biter. The Blue Devils won their previous two NCAA Tournament games by a combined three points and escaped in the final seconds only when their opponents missed at the buzzer.
''Everybody that beats Duke is ready to put that on the wall because that's the program that (Krzyzewski has) built,'' Izzo said. ''I do think we beat arguably the best team in the country, but there's another game coming up.''
Falling short likely ended the college career of Williamson, the freshman sensation expected to leave Duke for the NBA. Interest in Williamson has been so high that CBS dedicated a camera to his every move in the NCAA Tournament.
Barrett had 21 points - but not the one that could have sent the game into overtime.
''It's March Madness and people are going to fight their butts off to win this title,'' Barrett said. ''They wanted it more than us.''
REDDISH BACK
Cam Reddish didn't start for Duke but the freshman was the first player off the bench two minutes in after being a game-time decision. Reddish missed the Sweet 16 victory against Virginia Tech on Friday with a left knee injury.
Reddish missed his first two shots before his two free throws gave Duke its first lead at 22-21 with 7:10 left in the first half. Reddish finished with eight points on 2-of-8 shooting.
''Obviously it was sore or whatever but I wanted to be out there with my guys,'' Reddish said.
MCQUAID'S HIGHLIGHTS
McQuaid dunked the ball in the first half and in the second half had a 360-degree up-and-under layup that should be a regular feature on highlight reels.
''I don't know what got into me,'' McQuaid said.
UP NEXT
While this is the Spartans' 10th Final Four, it's the first in program history for their opponent, Texas Tech, which beat Gonzaga to win the West Region.
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1st Half
MIST
Spartans
34
DUKE
Blue Devils
30
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Duke
19:48
Lost ball turnover on Javin DeLaurier
19:44
+2
Kenny Goins made dunk, assist by Cassius Winston
2-0
19:24
RJ Barrett missed jump shot
19:22
Defensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
19:14
Matt McQuaid missed layup, blocked by Javin DeLaurier
19:12
Offensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
19:09
Matt McQuaid missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:07
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
19:00
RJ Barrett missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:58
Offensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
18:48
+2
Javin DeLaurier made dunk, assist by RJ Barrett
2-2
18:34
Kenny Goins missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:32
Defensive rebound by Tre Jones
18:05
Tre Jones missed turnaround jump shot
18:03
Defensive rebound by Kenny Goins
17:59
Shooting foul on Alex O'Connell
17:59
Matt McQuaid missed 1st of 2 free throws
17:59
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
17:59
Matt McQuaid missed 2nd of 2 free throws
17:59
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
17:41
Out of bounds turnover on Cam Reddish
17:26
Matt McQuaid missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:24
Defensive rebound by Zion Williamson
17:20
Bad pass turnover on RJ Barrett, stolen by Kenny Goins
17:12
Cassius Winston missed jump shot
17:10
Offensive rebound by Kenny Goins
17:07
Cassius Winston missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:05
Offensive rebound by Kenny Goins
16:56
+2
Matt McQuaid made layup
4-2
16:43
Zion Williamson missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:41
Defensive rebound by Aaron Henry
16:34
Cassius Winston missed jump shot
16:32
Offensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
16:32
Xavier Tillman missed tip-in
16:30
Offensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
16:30
+2
Xavier Tillman made dunk
6-2
16:15
Cam Reddish missed jump shot
16:13
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
16:11
+2
Zion Williamson made dunk
6-4
15:51
+2
Cassius Winston made jump shot, assist by Aaron Henry
8-4
15:27
Lost ball turnover on Zion Williamson, stolen by Aaron Henry
15:15
+2
Nick Ward made hook shot
10-4
14:52
Zion Williamson missed driving layup
14:50
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
14:50
Zion Williamson missed dunk
14:48
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
14:48
Shooting foul on Nick Ward
14:43
Zion Williamson missed 1st of 2 free throws
14:43
+2
Matt McQuaid made dunk, assist by Cassius Winston
12-4
14:43
+1
Zion Williamson made 2nd of 2 free throws
10-5
14:43
+2
Matt McQuaid made dunk, assist by Cassius Winston
12-5
14:30
+2
Javin DeLaurier made layup, assist by RJ Barrett
12-7
13:59
Aaron Henry missed jump shot, blocked by Cam Reddish
13:57
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
13:49
RJ Barrett missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:47
Defensive rebound by Cassius Winston
13:19
+2
Nick Ward made hook shot, assist by Matt McQuaid
14-7
12:52
+2
Zion Williamson made driving dunk
14-9
12:34
Personal foul on Javin DeLaurier
12:16
Cassius Winston missed floating jump shot
12:14
Offensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
12:13
+2
Xavier Tillman made dunk
16-9
11:59
Cam Reddish missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:57
Defensive rebound by Gabe Brown
11:38
Matt McQuaid missed jump shot
11:36
Defensive rebound by Tre Jones
11:27
Zion Williamson missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:25
Offensive rebound by Tre Jones
11:21
+2
RJ Barrett made layup, assist by Tre Jones
16-11
11:05
Bad pass turnover on Cassius Winston, stolen by Zion Williamson
11:00
Traveling violation turnover on Zion Williamson
10:28
Aaron Henry missed 3-pt. jump shot, blocked by Cam Reddish
10:26
Shot clock violation turnover on Michigan State
10:04
+3
RJ Barrett made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tre Jones
16-14
9:35
Kenny Goins missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:33
Defensive rebound by Cam Reddish
9:33
Personal foul on Gabe Brown
9:24
+2
RJ Barrett made driving layup, assist by Tre Jones
16-16
9:15
+3
Matt McQuaid made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Cassius Winston
19-16
9:04
+2
Tre Jones made driving layup, assist by RJ Barrett
19-18
8:57
Personal foul on Zion Williamson
8:43
Cassius Winston missed floating jump shot
8:41
Offensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
8:29
+2
Cassius Winston made floating jump shot
21-18
8:14
Personal foul on Xavier Tillman
8:02
Jack White missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:00
Defensive rebound by Nick Ward
7:49
Nick Ward missed hook shot
7:47
Defensive rebound by Tre Jones
7:35
+2
RJ Barrett made jump shot
21-20
7:18
Nick Ward missed layup, blocked by Javin DeLaurier
7:16
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
7:10
Shooting foul on Nick Ward
7:10
+1
Cam Reddish made 1st of 2 free throws
21-21
7:10
+1
Cam Reddish made 2nd of 2 free throws
21-22
6:47
Kenny Goins missed jump shot
6:45
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
6:31
RJ Barrett missed floating jump shot
6:29
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
6:28
+2
Zion Williamson made dunk
21-24
6:13
Cassius Winston missed floating jump shot
6:11
Defensive rebound by Zion Williamson
6:01
+3
Cam Reddish made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zion Williamson
21-27
5:32
Matt McQuaid missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:30
Defensive rebound by Cam Reddish
5:21
+3
RJ Barrett made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tre Jones
21-30
5:06
Cassius Winston missed floating jump shot
5:04
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
4:54
Bad pass turnover on RJ Barrett, stolen by Kenny Goins
4:52
Personal foul on Zion Williamson
4:34
+2
Cassius Winston made driving layup
23-30
4:34
Shooting foul on Javin DeLaurier
4:34
Cassius Winston missed free throw
4:34
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
4:11
Jack White missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:09
Defensive rebound by Kenny Goins
4:03
Kenny Goins missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:01
Defensive rebound by Cam Reddish
3:47
Cam Reddish missed jump shot
3:45
Defensive rebound by Kenny Goins
3:28
+2
Cassius Winston made floating jump shot
25-30
3:02
Double dribble turnover on RJ Barrett
2:36
+3
Xavier Tillman made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Cassius Winston
28-30
2:19
Zion Williamson missed jump shot, blocked by Xavier Tillman
2:17
Offensive rebound by Marques Bolden
2:14
Marques Bolden missed dunk
2:12
Defensive rebound by Kenny Goins
2:08
+2
Cassius Winston made jump shot
30-30
1:53
Personal foul on Aaron Henry
1:35
Tre Jones missed jump shot
1:33
Defensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
1:10
Xavier Tillman missed driving layup
1:08
Defensive rebound by Cam Reddish
49.0
Lost ball turnover on RJ Barrett, stolen by Cassius Winston
42.0
+2
Xavier Tillman made layup, assist by Cassius Winston
32-30
23.0
Bad pass turnover on Zion Williamson, stolen by Cassius Winston
4.0
+2
Cassius Winston made driving layup
34-30
2.0
Bad pass turnover on Zion Williamson
1.0
Kenny Goins missed 3-pt. jump shot
2nd Half
MIST
Spartans
34
DUKE
Blue Devils
37
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:48
+2
Aaron Henry made alley-oop shot, assist by Cassius Winston
36-30
19:34
RJ Barrett missed jump shot
19:32
Defensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
19:27
Cassius Winston missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:25
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
19:18
Cam Reddish missed 3-pt. jump shot, blocked by Xavier Tillman
19:16
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
19:12
+2
Zion Williamson made dunk
36-32
18:50
Kenny Goins missed floating jump shot, blocked by Zion Williamson
18:49
Offensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
18:49
Shooting foul on Javin DeLaurier
18:49
Xavier Tillman missed 1st of 2 free throws
18:49
+1
Xavier Tillman made 2nd of 2 free throws
37-32
18:21
Tre Jones missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:19
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
18:16
Zion Williamson missed dunk
18:14
Offensive rebound by Zion Williamson
18:16
+2
Zion Williamson made dunk
37-34
18:16
Shooting foul on Xavier Tillman
18:16
Zion Williamson missed free throw
18:16
Defensive rebound by Matt McQuaid
18:00
+2
Xavier Tillman made dunk, assist by Aaron Henry
39-34
17:46
Shooting foul on Xavier Tillman
17:46
+1
Zion Williamson made 1st of 2 free throws
39-35
17:46
Zion Williamson missed 2nd of 2 free throws
17:46
Defensive rebound by Nick Ward
17:38
+2
Kenny Goins made layup, assist by Aaron Henry
41-35
17:12
+3
Zion Williamson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tre Jones
41-38
16:57
Bad pass turnover on Matt McQuaid, stolen by RJ Barrett
16:41
+2
Zion Williamson made driving layup
41-40
16:17
Aaron Henry missed layup
16:15
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
16:09
+2
Tre Jones made reverse layup
41-42
15:59
+2
Nick Ward made hook shot, assist by Cassius Winston
43-42
15:45
Zion Williamson missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:43
Defensive rebound by Nick Ward
15:29
Nick Ward missed hook shot
15:27
Defensive rebound by Zion Williamson
15:12
Shooting foul on Matt McQuaid
15:12
+1
RJ Barrett made 1st of 2 free throws
43-43
15:12
+1
RJ Barrett made 2nd of 2 free throws
43-44
14:49
Cassius Winston missed driving layup
14:47
Defensive rebound by Zion Williamson
14:42
Bad pass turnover on Cam Reddish, stolen by Matt McQuaid
14:18
+2
Aaron Henry made floating jump shot
45-44
13:56
+2
RJ Barrett made driving layup
45-46
13:32
+3
Cassius Winston made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kenny Goins
48-46
13:16
Lost ball turnover on Zion Williamson, stolen by Kenny Goins
13:07
Aaron Henry missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:05
Offensive rebound by Nick Ward
13:03
Nick Ward missed dunk
12:55
Defensive rebound by Marques Bolden
12:35
RJ Barrett missed floating jump shot
12:34
Defensive rebound by Aaron Henry
12:34
Lost ball turnover on Aaron Henry, stolen by Zion Williamson
12:19
+3
Cam Reddish made 3-pt. jump shot
48-49
11:58
Cassius Winston missed jump shot
11:56
Defensive rebound by Zion Williamson
11:40
+3
Zion Williamson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by RJ Barrett
48-52
11:17
Cassius Winston missed jump shot
11:15
Offensive rebound by Kenny Goins
11:11
+3
Cassius Winston made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kenny Goins
51-52
10:54
Cam Reddish missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:52
Defensive rebound by Nick Ward
10:42
Cassius Winston missed jump shot
10:40
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
10:23
Bad pass turnover on RJ Barrett, stolen by Xavier Tillman
10:06
+2
Xavier Tillman made dunk, assist by Cassius Winston
53-52
9:48
+2
Javin DeLaurier made layup, assist by RJ Barrett
53-54
9:20
Cassius Winston missed floating jump shot, blocked by Javin DeLaurier
9:18
Defensive rebound by RJ Barrett
9:14
RJ Barrett missed driving layup
9:12
Offensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
9:11
+2
Javin DeLaurier made dunk
53-56
8:42
+3
Kenny Goins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Aaron Henry
56-56
8:24
RJ Barrett missed driving layup, blocked by Aaron Henry
8:22
Offensive rebound by RJ Barrett
8:15
Bad pass turnover on RJ Barrett, stolen by Xavier Tillman
8:15
+2
Matt McQuaid made driving layup
58-56
7:58
Zion Williamson missed driving layup
7:56
Defensive rebound by Aaron Henry
7:50
Xavier Tillman missed layup, blocked by Zion Williamson
7:48
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
7:24
Zion Williamson missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:23
Defensive rebound by Michigan State
7:01
Xavier Tillman missed hook shot
6:59
Defensive rebound by Zion Williamson
6:37
+2
Zion Williamson made layup, assist by RJ Barrett
58-58
6:11
Bad pass turnover on Matt McQuaid
6:04
Cam Reddish missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:02
Defensive rebound by Matt McQuaid
5:44
Kenny Goins missed 3-pt. jump shot, blocked by Zion Williamson
5:42
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
5:45
Personal foul on Kenny Goins
5:31
Lost ball turnover on Javin DeLaurier
5:08
3-second violation turnover on Xavier Tillman
4:53
Shooting foul on Aaron Henry
4:53
RJ Barrett missed 1st of 2 free throws
4:53
+1
RJ Barrett made 2nd of 2 free throws
58-59
4:27
+2
Cassius Winston made floating jump shot
60-59
4:12
Bad pass turnover on RJ Barrett, stolen by Cassius Winston
4:07
+2
Xavier Tillman made dunk, assist by Cassius Winston
62-59
4:07
Shooting foul on Javin DeLaurier
4:07
+1
Xavier Tillman made free throw
63-59
3:52
+2
Javin DeLaurier made layup, assist by Cam Reddish
63-61
3:32
Bad pass turnover on Aaron Henry, stolen by Zion Williamson
3:22
Bad pass turnover on Tre Jones, stolen by Xavier Tillman
2:55
Cassius Winston missed jump shot, blocked by Tre Jones
2:53
Offensive rebound by Kenny Goins
2:48
Kenny Goins missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:46
Defensive rebound by Zion Williamson
2:27
+3
RJ Barrett made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zion Williamson
63-64
2:18
Personal foul on Tre Jones
2:01
Aaron Henry missed floating jump shot
1:59
Defensive rebound by Javin DeLaurier
1:39
+2
Zion Williamson made driving layup
63-66
1:16
+2
Xavier Tillman made alley-oop shot, assist by Cassius Winston
65-66
49.0
RJ Barrett missed floating jump shot
47.0
Defensive rebound by Kenny Goins
35.0
+3
Kenny Goins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Xavier Tillman