NEW YORK, NY. (March 29, 2014) — It took Michigan State until Saturday morning, but they’re a step away from getting Adreian Payne and Keith Appling that elusive Final Four berth.
Branden Dawson had 24 points and 10 rebounds as the four-seed Spartans outlasted the East Region top seed Virginia 61-59 to advance to the program’s eighth Elite Eight under Tom Izzo.
Izzo has never had a senior class that hasn’t made at least one trip to the NCAA Tournament’s final weekend, but seniors Appling and Payne are in danger of breaking the streak.
The Spartans will play UConn on Sunday with that Final Four trip on the line.
