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Michigan State makes Final Four

The seventh-seeded Spartans outlast Louisville in overtime to again coach Tom Izzo to the national semifinals.

SYRACUSE, N.Y.

- Travis Trice vowed a day earlier that he wasn't going to cry should the Michigan State Spartans continue their improbable run to the Final Four.

The senior guard's vow lasted no more than 10 seconds once the final horn sounded following Michigan State's 76-70 overtime victory over Louisville in a thrilling NCAA Tournament East Regional final yesterday. Amid the frenzied celebration, Trice squatted down at center court and began to sob uncontrollably.

"I was actually trying to hold it in," Trice said. "I try to keep it even-keeled. I'm mad that I even cried now."

That's when senior forward Branden Dawson interjected by saying that was the first time he's ever seen Trice cry.

Counted out for done as recently as 6 weeks ago, the seventh-seeded Spartans (27-11) let it all out in a thrilling display of perseverance and defensive grit to oust the fourth-seeded Cardinals (27-9).

"I'd like to tell you that I thought five different times this year that we were good enough to get to a Final Four, but I'd be lying to you," said coach Tom Izzo, who described this as the best of seven regional final victories he has enjoyed.

Trice led the Spartans with 17 points. Dawson had 11 rebounds, including a key putback of Bryn Forbes' missed three-point shot with 31.7 seconds left in overtime. And Denzel Valentine scored 15 points for a Michigan State team that won for the 12th time in 15 games. It's a run that included them knocking off second-seeded Virginia last weekend and third-seeded Oklahoma in the regional semifinal on Friday.

Wayne Blackshear had 28 points for the Cardinals in a game that featured 11 lead changes.

There could have been a 12th with 4.9 seconds left in regulation, when Cardinals forward Mangok Mathiang hit his first free throw to tie the game on a shot that hit off the heel of the rim and bounced high and in. But he wasn't so fortunate on his second one, which also hit the heel and bounced wide left.

"Sometimes it can be a cruel game. I was positive we were going to win it when the first free throw went in because it shouldn't have gone in," Cardinals coach Rick Pitino said.