Minnesota Upsets Michigan State, Advances To Big Ten Semis

Devoe Joseph answered the call for Minensota in overtime, and in the process he may have shot the Golden Gophers into the field of 65. On Friday’s only overtime game in Indianapolis Joseph hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the extra session to give Minnesota a 72-67 upset win over Michigan State. The Spartans had won both regular season meetings with Minensota, but The Gophers got hte job done at the most critical time.

“We haven’t had much luck against them, but we were finally able to pull out a win,” said Minnesota coach Tubby Smith.

Michigan State was the opposite of clutch, missing four of its first five free throws in overtime and shooting only 18 of 34 from the line for the game. They were also without the suspended Chris Allen, who sat out for disciplinary reasons. Raymar Morgan added 23 points for the Spartans, but it was turnover with 3.9 seconds in regulation that cost Michigan State a chance to win in regulation.

“I wasn’t really thinking too much, I was just playing basketball,” said Joseph of his shots in overtime. “I guess I was just in the zone.”

Minnesota now will face another team that it lost a pair of games to during the regular season. Purdue won easily in West Lafayette while Keaton Grant’s late jumper gave Purdue a 59-58 win in Minneapolis on the night Robbie Hummel was injured.