Michigan State defeats Duke, 68-67, to take last spot in Final Four

WASHINGTON – Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett did everything they could Sunday to make sure that their likely one and only season playing for Duke would result in a trip to the Final Four.

But as Cassius Winston was running away from the Blue Devils defense and dribbling out the final 4.7 seconds, the last berth in Minneapolis wound up going to Michigan State.

The All-America point guard kept the Spartans calm through the many stressful periods of the NCAA East Regional final while contributing 20 points and 10 assists, and forward Kenny Goins hit the decisive three-point shot with 34.3 seconds to play in a 68-67 win over the Blue Devils before an emotionally spent crowd at Capital One Arena.

Michigan State (32-6) will play Texas Tech in the second game of Saturday night’s semifinal doubleheader in search of its first national championship since 2000.

Finishing its season at 32-6, Duke fell short of what would have been its 13th Final Four under coach Mike Krzyzewski, and a chance for the nation to see more of Williamson, the marquee player of the NCAA Tournament. Williamson, the probable No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, had 24 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals.

“I’m very upset, obviously, because we wanted to go to the Final Four,” Williamson said. “But congrats to Michigan State, they deserved it. They played a hell of a game. You just look around the locker room and see your teammates, your brothers, and you just think this group probably will never play together” again.

The nation will, instead, get a chance to see Winston, a heady junior who played all 40 minutes, committed just one turnover and came up with four steals. Krzyzewski called him “the difference-maker … the best guard we’ve played against all season.”

The Spartans needed Winston’s cool hand, especially in a second half that saw 14 lead changes. In the final 17 minutes, neither team led by more than four points.

“I can’t tell you how many times in those huddles they didn’t quit,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “They didn’t give in. I say we might not be physically as tough as some teams I’ve had, but I think mentally we might be tougher than any team I’ve had. That’s a big credit to our guys.”

Mental toughness was needed down the stretch. After taking a 63-59 lead on Tillman’s dunk and free throw with 4:07 remaining, the Spartans went almost three minutes without scoring. The Blue Devils got a three-point basket by Barrett and Williamson’s driving layup to move ahead, 66-63, with 1:41 to play.

But Winston then lobbed a pass that Xavier Tillman laid in to make it a one-point game. Barrett missed a driving shot in the paint on Duke’s next trip and, after a timeout, Izzo set up a play that saw Goins, who was just 1 of his previous 7 from beyond the arc, get the ball at the top of the key.

Williamson challenged late, but Goins rose up and knocked down the shot.

“Coach did a great job,” said the 6-foot-7 Goins, a fifth-year senior who had 10 points and nine rebounds. “We ran (the play) a little earlier and it didn’t work, but we went back to it. Coach thought it would be open. As soon as it left my hand, I knew it was good.”

Duke still had a chance. Barrett missed a three-pointer but the rebound went out of bounds off Michigan State’s Matt McQuaid with 8.4 seconds left. After a Duke timeout, Barrett drove into the lane and was fouled at 5.2 seconds.

He missed the first free throw and, seeking to deliberately miss the second, the low trajectory shot went off the back iron and dropped in.

“We didn’t have enough fouls and there wasn’t enough time,” Barrett said. “I tried to miss and it went in.”

With three team fouls, the Blue Devils had to foul a lot in a hurry. They fouled with 4.7 left but on the next inbounds play, Winston burst toward his offensive end, caught Goins’ pass, and dribbled until the buzzer sounded.

“It was shocking,” he said. “I knew I was going to get fouled. But I got the ball and got away and I’m about to dribble it out and I’m thinking, ‘This is really happening.’ It was a crazy moment.”

Reddish sees action

Freshman Cam Reddish, who missed Friday night’s game with a knee injury, did not start Sunday but played almost 37 minutes off the bench, chipping in with eight points, four rebounds, and two blocked shots in what probably was his last collegiate game.

“He did a good job in warm-ups,” Krzyzewski said. “He thought he would be ready to go and then he warmed up hard and we got him in the game after the first couple of minutes. He did a good job.”