Behind a theme of Strength in Numbers, Michigan State’s men’s basketball team relied on its depth all season, with 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes and nine different players leading the team in scoring during the season to win the Big Ten Regular Season title and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The road to the Final Four came up one game short on Sunday, as the Spartans’ run in the NCAA Tournament came to a close as MSU fell to top-seeded Auburn, 70-64, in the South Regional Final at State Farm Arena.
Three Spartans scored in double figures, led by junior forward Jaxon Kohler, who had 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Kohler also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. Senior guard Jaden Akins had 15 points with three 3-pointers in his final game as a Spartan. Freshman guard Jase Richardson finished with 11 points and was named to the South Regional All-Tournament team.