March Madness usually produces a heart-stopping upset that everyone talks about for a decade, but sometimes the big dog just decides enough is enough. That's basically the vibe of the Bryant vs MI State game that went down recently in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. If you were watching the first half at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, you might’ve actually thought the Bulldogs were going to pull off a miracle.
Honestly, Bryant didn't just show up; they came out swinging. They jumped to a 5-0 lead. They had Michigan State on their heels. For a solid 15 minutes, it felt like one of those "where were you when the 15-seed won?" moments. But then, the depth of Tom Izzo's squad just sort of suffocated the dream.
Why Bryant vs MI State Was Closer Than the Score Suggests
If you just look at the final score of 87-62, you’d assume it was a total blowout from start to finish. It wasn't. Early on, Rafael Pinzon was absolutely unconscious from the floor. He finished the night with 21 points, and for most of the first half, he looked like the best player on the court.
Bryant actually led 24-21 with about five minutes left in the first half after a Keyshawn Mitchell triple. You could feel the tension in the arena. The Spartan fans were getting that nervous energy you only see in the Round of 64. But Michigan State is Michigan State for a reason. They responded with a 10-0 run. Jase Richardson, the freshman phenom, capped it off with a three that basically acted as a "quiet down" signal to the Bryant bench.
The Coen Carr Explosion
The real story of the Bryant vs MI State matchup was Coen Carr. Most people know him as the human highlight reel who dunks everything, but in this game, he was the actual engine. He came off the bench and dropped a career-high 18 points.
He didn't just score; he demoralized them.
Carr had 15 of those points in the first half alone.
Without his spark, the Spartans might have headed into the locker room trailing.
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Instead, they went in up 33-28. It was a five-point game. Totally manageable for a Bryant team that had already won a school-record 23 games that season. But the second half was a completely different story. The Spartans outscored the Bulldogs 54-34 in the final 20 minutes. It was like watching a heavyweight boxer wait for a smaller opponent to tire out before landing the knockout blow.
Breaking Down the Statistical Nightmare
Why did the wheels fall off for Bryant? Rebounding. It’s almost always rebounding when you play an Izzo team. Michigan State absolutely owned the glass, outrebounding Bryant 54-29.
- Offensive Glass: MSU grabbed 21 offensive boards.
- Second Chance Points: Those rebounds turned into 31 points.
- Bench Depth: The Spartans' bench outscored Bryant's 46-8.
You just can't win a tournament game when the other team gets 21 extra possessions. Earl Timberlake did his best for the Bulldogs, putting up 14 points and 5 assists, but he was fighting an uphill battle against a rotation that just kept coming. Tre Holloman and Jeremy Fears Jr. were relentless in the backcourt, combining for 25 points and 10 assists.
The Tactical Shift
Phil Martelli Jr. had a great game plan to start. Bryant used their length to disrupt the Spartans' entry passes. They actually held MSU without a field goal for the first three minutes of the game. But once Izzo adjusted and started using Carr at the "five" position to create mismatches, Bryant had no answer.
Carr later mentioned that playing the five allowed him to run his lane and get to the rim easier. It sounds simple, but at that speed, it’s impossible to defend for 40 minutes.
Lessons From the Bryant vs MI State Matchup
So, what does this tell us about the current state of these programs? For Michigan State, it proved that their "strength in numbers" approach works. They had five players in double figures. Jase Richardson (15 points), Tre Holloman (14), Jeremy Fears Jr. (11), and Jaden Akins (11) all contributed. They didn't need a 30-point performance from one guy because they have ten guys who can play 15+ minutes.
For Bryant, this wasn't a failure. It was a benchmark. They won the America East, set a DI program record for wins, and stood toe-to-toe with a blue blood for a half. Rafael Pinzon proved he belongs on the big stage, and the program's ability to recruit high-level transfers like Barry Evans (who was the AE Newcomer of the Year) shows they aren't going anywhere.
What to Watch For Next
If you're following these teams into the 2026 season, keep an eye on the development of Jase Richardson. He’s showing signs of being the next great Spartan guard. For Bryant, the challenge is replacing the veteran leadership of guys like Timberlake and Withers.
To really understand the impact of this game, you should look at the shooting splits. Bryant shot 37% from the field. In the second half, MSU's defense tightened up so much that Bryant only hit 20% of their threes.
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Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the updated 2026 Big Ten standings to see if Michigan State’s depth is still holding up against the top-tier Quad 1 opponents.
- Watch the recruitment trail for Bryant; they have become a "transfer heaven" for players looking to reset their careers and play in the Big Dance.
- Review the box score of the New Mexico vs Michigan State game that followed this one to see how the Spartans' rebounding advantage translated against a more athletic frontcourt.
The Bryant vs MI State game might be in the books, but it set the tone for how both these programs are being built for the future. One relies on legendary coaching and punishing depth; the other on aggressive recruiting and a "fear no one" mentality.