BUFFALO, New York — Coen Carr recorded his first career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeremy Fears Jr. had 16 assists as Michigan State advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 17th time under coach Tom Izzo, beating Louisville, 77-69, on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Back to the Sweet 16, where this program belongs,” Izzo said.
Fears added 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting but did the most damage for Michigan State with his precision passing. The country's assists leader, who came in averaging 9.2 per game, became the first Big Ten player with 10 or more assists in each of the first two games of an NCAA tourney. He had 11 in the Spartans' first-round win over North Dakota State.
Magic Johnson had double-digit assists in four NCAA Tournament games during the Spartans’ run to the 1979 national title, before assists became an official stat.
“Well, if he’s shy of just Magic Johnson, he’s in pretty good company,” Izzo said. “That’s a pretty good place to be. So Earvin, if you’re watching, he’s coming after you.”
Third-seeded Michigan State will play the winner of Sunday’s game between No. 2 seed UConn and No. 7 seed UCLA in the East Region semifinals on Friday night in Washington.
Carr, a high-jumping, 6-foot-6 junior forward, reached double-digit rebounds for the first time and came within one point of his best scoring game.
“It means a lot, just to be in March Madness, one of the greatest stages on Earth, and to have a game like this,” Carr said.
Trey Fort contributed 12 points off the bench for Michigan State, and Jaxon Kohler had 10 points. AP