George Mason (23-7) vs. Michigan St (22-11) Friday 7:10 pm EST
DAYTON, Ohio (Ticker) -- Maurice Ager and Michigan State look
to make their late-season struggles an afterthought with an
extended run through the NCAA Tournament.
The sixth-seeded Spartans kick off their school-record ninth
consecutive appearance in the "Big Dance" on Friday when they
meet No. 11 George Mason in the Washington, D.C. Region.
The nine-year streak is the longest current run among Big Ten
Conference teams and the fifth-longest in the nation.
Michigan State (22-11) opened the season ranked fourth in the
country and one of the favorites to win the Big Ten. However,
the Spartans were inconsistent throughout the campaign before
falling apart towards the end, dropping five of their last seven
games in the regular season.
Their run in the Big Ten tournament ended with a 53-48 loss to
Iowa in the semifinals. Ager scored 21 points and fellow senior
Paul Davis added 13 and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.
Michigan State, which has made six Final Four appearances, is
making its 20th overall trip to the tournament. The pinnacle
came in 2000, when coach Tom Izzo guided the club to the
national championship.
Izzo's 23-7 record in the NCAAs ranks second among active
coaches in winning percentage.
George Mason (23-7) claimed the Colonial Athletic Association
regular-season championship with a 15-3 conference record, but
fell to Hofstra, 58-49, in the league tourney semifinals.
The Patriots, who received their first ever at-large bid, are
winless in three previous NCAA Tournament trips. They feature
five players who average double-digits in scoring, led by senior
Jai Lewis at 14.0.
Lewis will have increased responsibility Friday as the Patriots
will be without senior guard Tony Skinn, who was suspended for
punching a Hofstra player in the groin during the CAA
tournament.
Michigan State is 2-0 all-time against George Mason, including a
66-60 triumph in the last meeting December 5, 2004. The winner
will face either third-seeded North Carolina or 14th-seeded
Murray State on Sunday.