Pittsburgh Michigan State Live Coverage

Team	1st	2nd	SCORE
NCAA South Regional - FINAL
#4 Pittsburgh Panthers	28	26	54
#5 Michigan State Spartans	30	35	65

Pittsburgh Michigan State Live Play-by-Play Coverage

After a few last-minute attempts without a bucket, Pittsburgh let the Spartans dribble out the clock. This one was hard-fought, but the Michigan State Spartans were able to out-control, out-run, and out-shoot the Panthers down the stretch.

#11 Drew Neitzel makes two of two free throws.

(0:34) #11 Drew Neitzel gets the inbounding pass and is fouled.

(0:38) A scrum at mid-court for the ball. #14 Goran Suton falls on it and calls a TIME OUT.

(0:42) Pittsburgh Panthers Made 2 point shot by #4 Ronald Ramon

(0:50) #11 Drew Neitzel makes two of two free throws

(0:52) #2 Levance Fields misses a three-point attempt. Unless a miracle happens, that should seal the deal for the Spartans.

(1:00) #5 Travis Walton makes 2 of 2 free throws

Role players have stepped up tonight for Michigan State. Lucas and Suton have stepped up while #2 Raymar Morgan only has four points with a minute left in the game.

(1:14) TIME OUT called by the Michigan State Spartans

The medical staff looks at Fields' foot and helps him to his feet. Just after the play #11 Drew Neitzel was boasting and waving his hands. It looks like he stopped being as vocal once he saw the Fields may have been hurt.

(1:36) #2 Levance Fields drives toward the basket but collides with #1 Keith Benjamin. Fields is on the ground clutching his knee.

(1:48) Two quick fast break points from #11 Drew Neitzel for #1 Kalin Lucas

(2:36) Pittsburgh called for traveling, but the call came late. Pitt Coach Jamie Dixon is furious.

(2:53) #1 Kalin Lucas cuts through the paint and gets a two-point lay up.

#23 Sam Young makes two of two free throws

(3:24) #23 Sam Young fouled by #14 Goran Suton

(3:38) - TV TIMEOUT - It's still well within reach for Pittsburgh but Drew Neitzel has taken over the came. It will take a concerted effort from the Panthers to keep up with Michigan State offensively.

(4:03) Contested call against the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Spartans get possession.

Drew Neitzel is on fire right now. The commentators discuss whether Pittsburgh should start double covering him.

(4:16) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #11 Drew Neitzel

(4:44) #11 Gilbert Brown hits two of two free throws

(5:03) Michigan State Spartans Made 3 point shot by #11 Drew Neitzel. That's two consecutive three-point shots for Neitzel, executed perfectly. After starting off slow in the second half, he looks very confident right now.

#2 Levance Fields makes two of two free throws

(5:28) Foul on #2 Raymar Morgan. Fields will go back to the line.

(5:49) #2 Levance Fields misses a long three point attempt.

(6:24) Michigan State Spartans Made three point shot by #11 Drew Neitzel

The teams are very even, as was the pre-game consensus. The physicality has gone up in the second half.

#2 Levance Fields makes 2 of 2 free throws

TV TIMEOUT

(7:04) #2 Levance Fields is fouled by #5 Travis Walton

(7:30) Michigan State Spartans Made two-point shot by #14 Goran Suton

The speed is on right now, with both teams running the length of the court after missed shots. The defenses have been tight, but both clubs are taking advantage of the other's mistakes.

(8:41) #4 Ronald Ramon misses a 3-point shot. He is 0 for 7 on the night.

(8:44) #23 Sam Young is fouled by #2 Raymar Morgan

#1 Kalin Lucas hits the free throw

(9:02) After a #23 Sam Young 3-point miss, #1 Kalin Lucas runs the length of the court and hits a 2-point lay-up and gets the foul.

(9:41) #23 Sam Young gets a two-point lay up

(10:20) Pittsburgh Panthers Made 2 point shot by #1 Keith Benjamin

(10:31) Offensive Foul called on Michigan State

(10:43) TV TIMEOUT - The Michigan State Spartans hold on to a precarious two-point lead with just under 11 minutes left.

(11:04) #5 Tyrell Biggs gets a two-point hook shot for the Pittsburgh Panthers

(11:33) #1 Kalin Lucas runs in for a quick lay-up. State takes a two point lead.

(12:03) #11 Drew Neitzel misses a long jump shot and the ball goes out of bounds. Neitzel is 0 for 5 in the second half.

Just as it looked like Michigan State was about to pull away, Pittsburgh goes on a quick 8-0 run to keep it close.

#2 Levance Fields hits 2 of 2 free throws.

(12:33) #2 Levance Fields draws a foul from #1 Kalin Lucas as he goes up to shoot.

The chant is "Here we go Spartans, here we go."

(13:48) Pittsburgh Panthers Made 2 point shot by #2 Levance Fields

Sam Young misses the free throw. The ball is knocked out of bounds, last touched by #14 Goran Suton.

(14:08) Pittsburgh Panthers Made 2 point shot by #23 Sam Young and gets fouled

Going back and forth right now but the Michigan State Spartans are getting the better of it at the moment. They're putting the ball in Goran Suton's hands - he has the hot hands.

(14:43) Pittsburgh Panthers Made 2 point shot by #45 DeJuan Blair

(15:01) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #14 Goran Suton

(15:24) Pittsburgh Panthers Made 2 point shot by #45 DeJuan Blair

(15:57) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #2 Raymar Morgan

(16:35) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #14 Goran Suton

(16:52) #23 Sam Young gets called on a travel. It's the sixth turnover for Pittsburgh

(17:10) #2 Raymar Morgan hammers home a dunk

(17:55) #11 Drew Neitzel misses a two-point lay up.

(18:20) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #14 Goran Suton - first points of the half.

(18:55) #23 Sam Young blocks #11 Drew Neitzel and smacks him in the face in the follow-through. No foul called.

(19:20) #23 Sam Young misses a three point attempt

(19:52) #11 Drew Neitzel has his shot blocked out of bounds by #45 DeJuan Blair

Second half about to begin.

HALFTIME

Despite being heralded as two strongly defensive teams, both Pittsburgh and Michigan State have shown considerable speed at times during the first half. While there was no scoring at all in the first two minutes, both teams have shown the ability to run the full court and score quickly.

(0:01) #1 Kalin Lucas cuts in the lane and scores a two-point lay up in the last second of the half.

(0:10) #2 Levance Fields steals the ball and hits a 2 point lay up.

Both teams are playing tight. The Pittsburgh Panthers have been very willing to slow things down even if they've been down a few points.

(0:15) Time Out - Michigan State Spartans

(0:35) #2 Levance Fields three-point shot is contested and it ends up an airball

#1 Kalin Lucas makes 2 of 2 free throws.

(1:16) #11 Gilbert Brown fouls #1 Kalin Lucas

(1:38) Pittsburgh Panthers Made 2 point shot by #2 Levance Fields

(2:02) #23 Sam Young misses a three-point attempt.

(2:14) #11 Gilbert Brown misses a turn-around jumper.

(2:33) Michigan State turns it over, their eighth of the night.

TV TIMEOUT - Every time it looks like the Spartans are about to create some distance, Pittsburgh comes up with a series of good shots to keep it close. The three-pointer by #2 Levance Fields was very impressive. Idong Ibok has missed some easy opportunities tonight.

(3:35) Pittsburgh Panthers Made a fade-away 3 point shot by #2 Levance Fields

(3:59) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #1 Kalin Lucas

(4:22) Pittsburgh Panthers Made 2 point shot by #45 DeJuan Blair after a big offensive rebound.

Neitzel has 9 points tonight so far. He is moving fast and making his shots, 3 of 4 shooting from downtown."

(4:55) Michigan State Spartans Made 3 point shot by #11 Drew Neitzel

(5:00) Foul on #1 Keith Benjamin, his first.

(5:29) Reach-in foul by #1 Kalin Lucas

(5:44) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #14 Goran Suton

(6:25) Shot clock violation on the Michigan State Spartans

(7:02) Pittsburgh Panthers Made 3 point shot by #23 Sam Young

(7:23) Michigan State Spartans Made 3 point shot by #11 Drew Neitzel

(7:34) Pittsburgh Panthers Made 2 point shot by #45 DeJuan Blair despite good defensive down low from Michigan State

TV TIMEOUT

(7:47) #11 Drew Neitzel steps out of bounds while making a shot. It's the 5th turnover for the Spartans.

(8:20) Michigan State Spartans Made 3 point shot by #3 Chris Allen

(9:00) #11 Drew Neitzel sends a low pass toward the basket that goes out of bounds.

(9:18) #5 Tyrell Biggs commits an offensive foul. Michigan State gets possession.

(9:34) #1 Keith Benjamin is heavily covered as he tries to make a lay-up.

#45 DeJuan Blair makes 2 of 2 from the foul line.

(10:03) #45 DeJuan Blair draws the foul from #0 Idong Ibok.

Michigan State is shooting better than Pittsburgh at this point, but the Panthers are 6 of 6 from the charity stripe, while the Spartans have not yet gone to the line tonight.

TV TIMEOUT

Michigan State is starting to be the quicker team across the court and to rebounds. Pittsburgh only down by a point after a Tyrell Biggs 2-point miss.

(11:30) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #1 Kalin Lucas

(12:07) #5 Tyrell Biggs misses a three-point attempt

(12:41) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #14 Goran Suton

(12:55) #2 Levance Fields hits a high arcing shot for the Pittsburgh Panthers

(13:04) #14 Goran Suton knocks the ball out of bounds. Pittsburgh keeps the ball.

(13:40) #23 Sam Young gets the ball after a steal and puts away a dunk, a "Michael Jordan" dunk, according to Gus Johnson

(13:58) #11 Gilbert Brown hits 2 of 2 free throws

(14:29) #23 Sam Young hits 2 of 2 free throws

Foul on #34 Drew Naymick, his second

(14:50) #11 Drew Neitzel hits a three point shot.

(15:41) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point dunk by #34 Drew Naymick

(15:52) #23 Sam Young hits 2 of 2 free throws

As expected, the defense has been tight and every rebound has been contested. If things continue this way, it'll be a low scoring, physical game.

(16:10) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #14 Goran Suton

(16:50) #2 Levance Fields takes a pass from down the court and hits a two-point lay up for the Pittsburgh Panthers

(17:05) #45 DeJuan Blair picks up his first foul.

(17:35) Michigan State Spartans Made 2 point shot by #1 Kalin Lucas

Two minutes into the game, still no basket.

(18:02) #2 Levance Fields misses a three-point attempt.

(18:22) A big scrum in the paint. Several players dive for it and the Michigan State Spartans come up with possession.

(18:44) #2 Raymar Morgan picks up a foul.

(18:50) #23 Sam Young picks up his first foul.

(19:00) #2 Levance Fields inbounds the ball out of bounds. Michigan State Spartans gets the ball.

(19:42) Missed shot by #4 Ronald Ramon

(20:00) The tip off goes to the Pittsburgh Panthers

Pittsburgh Michigan State Bracket

Michigan State finally feels like they belong in this tournament. They have an experienced starting five and overcame some tough losses near season's end to defeat Temple and make it to the second round. Fourth-seeded Pittsburgh made it to this point with a similar story: hard-nosed defense, grit, and rebounding. It'll be a hard-fought battle out there for those rebounds and whoever gets the better of the boards is likely to come out on top.

How they Got Here

Mahalo Sports will be providing LIVE COVERAGE of the NCAA Tournament, also known as MARCH MADNESS. Game coverage is underway, and continues with every game of the tournament, right through to the National Championship. For an overview of today's action, CLICK HERE.

2008 South Region Bracket

All games airing on CBS

Pittsburgh Michigan State Pre-Game Analysis

Neither Michigan State or Pittsburgh have a player that averages over 20 points per game. Neither has a consistent three-point threat (though the Spartans' Durrell Summers sunk 11 of 21 long-range shots off the bench this season.) Both are averaging at least 37 rebounds per game and both keep the turnovers low. The similarities between the Spartans and the Panthers could go on and on. Even Michigan State assistant coach Mark Montgomery couldn't escape the comparison. "It's like a mirror. We're looking at ourselves," he's said about the match-up. One are the Spartans have a big advantage is in free-throw shooting. The Spartans are averaging 73.5% from the line while the Panthers hit about 2 out of 3 free throws. That being said, the Spartans took over 100 fewer free throws this season than the Panthers. These teams are so closely matched, that an "X-Factor" seems inevitable, and it could come from either side of the ball. On the Panthers side, it looks to be the 18 points per game of Sam Young and the tenacious rebounding of DeJuan Blair. For Michigan State, look for disciplined defensive play and the strong shooting of Raymar Morgan to be their strong suits.

First Round March 20 & 21 Sites TBD			Second Round March 22 & 23 Sites TBD			Regional Semifinals March 28 Reliant Stadium, Houston TX			Finals March 30 Reliant Stadium, Houston TX

1	Memphis	87
16	UT Arlington	63
			1	Memphis	77

			8	Mississppi State	74
8	Mississppi State	76

9	Oregon	69
						1	Memphis	92

						5	Michigan State	74
5	Michigan State	72

12	Temple	61
			5	Michigan State	65

			4	Pittsburgh	54
4	Pittsburgh	82

13	Oral Roberts	63
									1	Memphis	85

									2	Texas	67
6	Marquette	74

11	Kentucky	66
			6	Marquette	81

			3	Stanford	82
3	Stanford	77

14	Cornell	53
						3	Stanford	62

						2	Texas	82
7	Miami FL	78

10	Saint Mary's	64
			7	Miami FL	72

			2	Texas	75
2	Texas	74

15	Austin Peay	54

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