Neitzel Shoots MSU Past Pitt

Spartans punch ticket for Izzo's seventh Sweet 16
By Mitch Pritchard,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 23, 2008 12:01 AM CDT
Neitzel Shoots MSU Past Pitt
Pittsburgh center DeJuan Blair, center, battles for control of a rebound with Michigan State center Goran Suton, top, and forward Drew Naymick last night in Michigan State's 65-54 victory.    (AP Photo/Bill Ross)

Drew Neitzel helped carry fifth-seeded Michigan State into the Sweet 16, keying the run that opened the game up for the Spartans, reports the Detroit News. Neitzel scored 21 points, including eight in a 2:10 seconds in the waning minutes, to lift Michigan State to a 65-54 win over Pittsburgh. The Spartans head to the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in Tom Izzo's 13 years as coach.

Neitzel's cohorts in the victory included freshman Kalin Lucas, who hit on a clinching drive late and had 19 points, and forward Goran Suton who scored 14 for the Spartans (27-8). Point guard Levance Fields scored 19 for Pittsburgh (27-10) and forward Sam Young had 15. Michigan State built a 38-28 to start the second half, but Pitt went on an 8-0 run to make it close down the stretch. (More NCAA stories.)

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