Spartans Survive Crimson's Comeback

SPOKANE, Wash. - Michigan State was coasting eastward, toward the N.C.A.A. tournament's East Regional at Madison Square Garden, when Harvard suddenly ambushed the bandwagon.

A double-digit lead and a carefree air were gradually suffocated by the Crimson, the Ivy League champions. Suddenly it was Harvard doing the dunking, and more dunking, and bombing 3-pointers. Suddenly it was Harvard ahead for the first time, with seven minutes left.

Michigan State, seeded fourth but a popular choice among pundits to win the national championship, was in trouble. Harvard, seeded 12th, was in the lead.

If championship teams are built through stress under pressure, Michigan State improved its chances Saturday night. The Spartans, fully alert, used a flurry of their own to go on an 11-1 run, push back Harvard and escape with an 80-73 victory.

Michigan State (28-8) next plays the winner of Sunday's game between top-seeded Virginia and eighth-seeded Memphis.

Branden Dawson, who had averaged 10.4 points per game, scored 26, including 20 in the first half, and Gary Harris added 18 points. Wesley Saunders led Harvard (27-5) with 22 points.

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Michigan State started quickly against Harvard, scoring the first 5 points on the way to a 45-33 halftime lead, and appeared headed to an easy victory through the early minutes of the second half.

Then Harvard's Steve Moundou-Missi followed a dunk with a short jumper and then a more emphatic dunk, sending jolts of energy through a crowd that began putting its vocal weight behind the Crimson. Moundou-Missi tipped in another basket moments later, and Michigan State's lead was down to 55-53.

When Harvard's Laurent Rivard drained a 3-pointer from the right corner with 7 minutes 12 seconds left, a forgettable game turned into a potential epic.

Michigan State is no stranger to tournament drama, however. Before Harvard could score again, Travis Trice hit a 3-pointer, Adreian Payne made two free throws, and Harris made a 3-pointer. The Spartans had regained control, and they slipped through the final minutes having gained a worthy tournament experience and a newfound admiration for Harvard.

Michigan State was ranked first nationally early in the season and sped to an 18-1 record, but the team unraveled for several weeks with a string of near-simultaneous injuries to key players. The Spartans went 5-7 to end the regular season but, once healthy, blew through Northwestern, Wisconsin and Michigan to capture the Big Ten Conference tournament title.

Their record left them with a fourth seed, but their talent made them a championship contender. They opened the tournament on Thursday by blowing past 13th-seeded Delaware. In one stretch, Payne outscored the Blue Hens, 12-0, by himself.

Payne had 12 points against Harvard, demonstrating, among other things, the bounty of options at Coach Tom Izzo's disposal.

Izzo has led Michigan State to six Final Four appearances, the first in 1999, and won the national championship in 2000. Every four-year player in his career has reached at least one Final Four. Two more victories will get the Spartans there again.

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