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Michigan State, Kansas State deliver the best game of the NCAA Tournament
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Michigan State guard Tyson Walker fought his way to the bucket for a game-tying basket with 5 seconds left to send the game to overtime. Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell scored 20 points and dished an NCAA Tournament record 19 assists.
Play after play, blow after blow, the Spartans and Wildcats delivered the game of the tournament so far this season.
The Wildcats got the last laugh, swiping the ball away from Walker with 3 seconds remaining in the game as the Spartans sought another game-tying bucket, and returning it for a score at the buzzer to win 98-93 and advance to the Elite Eight.
Throughout, fans were enthralled with the game. Here’s some of the reaction to the game:
The Creed trilogy had fewer haymakers than this K-State/MSU Sweet 16 game.
— David Ubben (@davidubben) March 24, 2023
That was a great tournament game. A GREAT tournament game. Props to Sparty for the improvement they showed. Balled out and came up short. But the story was Markquis Nowell. Absolute DOG!!! One of the best floor generalship games I've ever seen in March. Wow!
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) March 24, 2023
That loss will hurt for a while, but the Michigan State basketball program heads into the offseason in a great spot.
With the nation’s #3 recruiting class set to join a strong roster foundation that might lose just 1-2 players, the future looks bright for Tom Izzo’s program.…
— Justin Thind (@JustinThind) March 24, 2023
Best game of the tourney.
— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) March 24, 2023
Amazing game. All-time performance by Nowell. Wow.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) March 24, 2023
When is the last time we had a better Sweet Sixteen game? More pertinently, when is the last time someone played a better NCAA Tournament game than Markquis Nowell?
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 24, 2023
I'd be surprised if there's a better game in this NCAA Tournament. Tremendous stuff from both teams at MSG. K-State and Nowell just too good.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) March 24, 2023
Going to choose to believe forever that arguing with the coach was part of the play.
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 24, 2023
K-State fans rn 🔥#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ulHzb4CR0T
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 24, 2023
Game of the tournament. Not close. @KStateMBB to the Eight!
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) March 24, 2023
Michigan State-Kansas State is now the Game of the Tournament So Far.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 24, 2023
Unbelievable pass from Markquis Nowell @KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/V1Y1B0cmah
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 24, 2023
19 assists. NCAA Record. What a game
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) March 24, 2023
This is the way the game should be played. @MSU_Basketball @KStateMBB What a show!
— Rece Davis (@ReceDavis) March 24, 2023
Michigan State’s last possession: pic.twitter.com/ehULWqohZK
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 24, 2023
Markquis Nowell making a point to praise MSU: "It was a Rocky fight tonight … I just want to give credit to Tom Izzo and Michigan State."
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) March 24, 2023
This K-State – Michigan State game pic.twitter.com/6qxo50Vxut
— br_betting (@br_betting) March 24, 2023
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.