Up until the fifth minute of the second half, both teams were evenly matched, exchanging the lead several times. With 16 minutes left in the second half, the game was tied. At that point, MSU broke away and gained [...]]]> Tom Izzo’s MSU Spartans rolled through the University of Connecticut Huskies tonight, winning a hard-fought game 82-73.

Up until the fifth minute of the second half, both teams were evenly matched, exchanging the lead several times. With 16 minutes left in the second half, the game was tied. At that point, MSU broke away and gained control of the game, forcing Jim Calhoun’s Huskies into bad shots while making the most of their opportunities.

With 3:18 remaining in the game, the Spartans had established an 11-point lead and though the Huskies put up a fight, they did not come close enough. The Spartans bench was remarkably productive and helped provide the speed and energy needed to defeat a talented Connecticut team.

The championship game is Monday night at Ford Field. MSU will play the winner of tonight’s Villanova-North Carolina game.