Live Blogging: 2019 NCAA MBK East Regional Final: Michigan State Spartans vs. Duke Blue Devils 03/31/2019

CBS TV Broadcast

Hello and welcome to another edition of 'Live Blogging on Shish on College Basketball'. This Afternoon it is 2019 East Regional Final, between Michigan State Spartans and Duke Blue Devils. This is considered a battle of blue bloods. 

Spartans are hoping to be the first Big Ten Team, to win the national championship since their 2000 version did it. They are hoping that they can have a healthy Nick Ward for tonight's game.

As for the Blue Devils, they've had a couple of games go their way, but they are hoping that they can get some playing time, out of Cam Reddish. Reddish did not play on Friday, due to a knee injury. He is a game-time decision. 

The Spartans are led by Cassius Winston in scoring and assists. And Kenny Goins in rebounding. Their team stats include, a scoring average of 78.9 PPG, while allowing 59.3 PPG. They rebound the ball at 41 RPG. And they distribute the ball at 18.8 APG. 

Meanwhile the Blue Devils are led by R.J. Barrett in scoring. Zion Williamson leads Duke in rebounding. And Tre Jones leads the team in assists. As for their team stats, they average 83.1 PPG, while allowing 70.3 PPG. They rebound the ball at 41.2 RPG. And they distribute the ball at 16 APG. 

It is Michigan State Spartans and Duke Blue Devils. Winner plays Texas Tech in the National Semifinals on Saturday. 

Possible Starting Lineups:
#2: Michigan State Spartans:
G: C. Winston
​G: M. McQuaid
​F: X. Tillman
F: A. Henry
F: K. Goins

#1: Duke Blue Devils:
​G: T. Jones
F: R.J. Barrett
F: C. Reddish
F: J. DeLaurier
F: Z. Williamson 

Michigan State is in green uniforms. While the Blue Devils are in their home white uniforms. 

Cam Reddish will not start, this afternoon. Alex OConnell will start for the Blue Devils. 

1st Half:
20:00: Duke wins tipoff. Michigan State will have the Possession Arrow, in their favor.
19:45: Goins with a jam. MSU 2, DUKE 0
18:49: DeLaurier jams it home. MSU 2, DUKE 2
17:59: McQuaid missed both free throws. 
17:59: Cam Reddish comes into the game, for the Blue Devils.
16:57: McQuaid with a floater. MSU 4, DUKE 2
16:32: Tillman with a tip-in. MSU 6, DUKE 2
16:11: Williamson with a jam. MSU 6, DUKE 4
15:50: Winston hits a FG. MSU 8, DUKE 4
15;26: T.V. Timeout #1: MSU 8, DUKE 4

15:12: Ward with a FG. MSU 10, DUKE 4
14:48: Williamson makes 1 of 2 free throws. MSU 10, DUKE 5
14:42: McQuaid with a jam. MSU 10, DUKE 7
14:27: DeLaurier with a layup. MSU 12, DUKE 7
13:17: Ward with a hook shot. MSU 14, DUKE 7
12:51: Williamson with a jam. MSU 14, DUKE 9
12:16: Tillman with a layup. MSU 16, DUKE 9
11:23: Barrett with a layup. Jones with an assist. MSU 16, DUKE 11
11:00: T.V. Timeout #2: MSU 16, DUKE 11
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10:29: Spartans committed a shot clock violation. 
10:04: Barrett with a 3-point FG. MSU 16, DUKE 14
9:23: Barrett with a layup MSU 16, DUKE 14
9:13: McQuaid counters with a 3-point FG. MSU 19, DUKE 16
9:00: Jones with layup. MSU 19, DUKE 18
8:29: Winston with a running jumper. MSU 21, DUKE 18
8:02: White with an airball. 
7:43: T.V. Timeout #3: MSU 21, DUKE 18

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7:33: Barrett with a jumper. MSU 21, DUKE 20
7:10: Reddish makes 1 of 2 free throws. MSU 21, DUKE 22
6:29: Williamson muscles his way with a jumper. MSU 21, DUKE 24
6:02: Reddish with a 3-point FG. MSU 21, DUKE 27
5:22; Barrett with a 3-point FG. MSU 21, DUKE 30
5:20: SPARTANS TIMEOUT #1: MSU 21, DUKE 30
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4:52: Williamson gets his 2nd personal foul.
4:34: Winston with a jumper and foul. Winston missed free throw. MSU 23, DUKE 30 
3:28: Winston with a jumper. MSU 25, DUKE 30
3:25: BLUE DEVILS TIMEOUT #1: MSU 25, DUKE 30
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2:36: Tillman with a 3-point FG. MSU 28, DUKE 30
2:09: Winston with a jumper. MSU 30, DUKE 30
1:00: Both teams with 5 fouls.
:45: Tillman with a finger-roll layup. MSU 32, DUKE 30
:05: Winston makes a layup. MSU 34, DUKE 30
:01.7: Horn goes off incidentally. 
:02.2: Officials have determined that there are 2.2 seconds left.
:00: Goins missed a 3-point FG to end the half. Michigan State will inbound the ball, to start the 2nd Half. 

Halftime:
MSU 34, DUKE 30

Halftime Leaders;
Scoring: Barrett & Winston with 12 points
Rebounding: 4 players with 6 rebounds
Assists: Winston (MSU) 5 assists

Halftime Thoughts:
A couple of runs by both teams. However, when Zion got into foul trouble with 2 fouls, Duke looked lost. And Cassius Winston and Sparty capitalized, to get the halftime lead. 

CBS is showing a stat, that stand out. Duke committed 10 turnover, and Spartans turned them into 15 points.

2nd Half:
20:00: Michigan State will inbound the ball to start the 2nd Half. Duke will have the Possession Arrow, in their favor.
19:45: Henry with a jam. MSU 36, DUKE 30
19:16: Williamson with a rebound and layup. MSU 36, DUKE 32
​18:49: Tillman makes 1 of 2 free throws. MSU 37, DUKE 32
18:16: Williamson with a layup and foul. Williamson missed a free throw. MSU 37, DUKE 34
18:02: Tillman with a jam. MSU 39, DUKE 34
17:46: Tillman commits his 3rd personal foul. Williamson makes 1 of 2 free throws. MSU 39, DUKE 35
17:38: Goins with a layup. MSU 41, DUKE 35
17:12: Williamson makes a 3-point FG. MSU 41, DUKE 38
16:40: Williamson with a layup. MSU 41, DUKE 40
16:09: Jones with a layup. MSU 41, DUKE 42
15:57: Ward stops Sparty bleeding, with a hook shot. MSU 43, DUKE 42
15:12: T.V. Timeout #1: MSU 43, DUKE 42

​15:12: Barrett makes both free throws. MSU 43, DUKE 44
14:16: Henry with a jumper. MSU 45, DUKE 44
13:56: Barrett with a layup. MSU 45, DUKE 46
13:32: Winston nails a 3-point FG. MSU 48, DUKE 46
12:19: Reddish with a 3-point FG. MSU 48, DUKE 49
11:40: Williamson with a 3-point FG. MSU 48, DUKE 52
11:13: Winston with a 3-point FG. MSU 51, DUKE 52
10:36: BLUE DEVILS TIMEOUT #2: MSU 51, DUKE 52

​10:06: Tillman with a jam. Winston with an assist. MSU 53, DUKE 52
9:47: DeLaurier with a tip-in. MSU 53, DUKE 54
9:20: DeLaurier stuffs Winston. 
9:11: DeLaurier with a layup. MSU 53, DUKE 56
8:42: Goins with a 3-point FG. MSU 56, DUKE 56
8:15: McQuaid with a layup. MSU 58, DUKE 56
7:23: T.V. Timeout #2: MSU 58, DUKE 56

​6:38: Williamson with a layup. MSU 58, DUKE 58
5:45: T.V. Timeout #3: MSU 58, DUKE 58
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4:53: Barrett makes 1 of 2 free throws. MSU 58, DUKE 59
4:38: Michigan State has 5 fouls. 
4:26: Winston with a jumper. MSU 60, DUKE 59
4:07: Tillman with a jam and foul. MSU 63, DUKE 59
3:52; DeLaurier with a layup. MSU 63, DUKE 61
3:32: T.V. Timeout #4: MSU 63, DUKE 61

​2:28: Barrett drills a 3-point FG. Williamson with an assist. MSU 63, DUKE 64
2:26: BLUE DEVILS TIMEOUT #3; MSU 63, DUKE 64
​1:41: Williamson with a layup. MSU 63, DUKE 66
1:33: SPARTANS TIMEOUT #2: MSU 63, DUKE 66
1:17: Tillman with a layup. Winston with an assist. MSU 65, DUKE 66
:43.6: SPARTANS TIMEOUT #3: MSU 65, DUKE 66
:34: Goins with a 3-point FG. MSU 68, DUKE 66
:08.4: Barrett misses a 3-point FG. 
:08.4: OFFICIAL REVIEW: Officials reviewing over last possession. Duke Ball! 
:08.4: BLUE DEVILS FINAL TIMEOUT: MSU 68, DUKE 66
:05.2: Duke is in the Bonus.
:05.2: Tillman commits 4th personal foul.
:05.2: Barrett missed 1st free throw, but 2nd free throw. MSU 68, DUKE 67
:00: Tillman inbounds the ball to Winston, who runs out the clock. The Game is over. Duke's luck has ran out, in this game.

Final:
MSU 68, DUKE 67
Michigan State wins 2019 East Region. Spartan advance to National Semifinals. 

Final Leaders:
Scoring: Williamson (DUKE) 24 points
Rebounding: Williamson (DUKE) 14 rebounds
Assists: Winston (MSU) 10 assists

Final Thoughts:
The Spartans clamped down on defense. They forced 17 Blue Devils turnovers. As for Blue Devils, they came up short. Their luck has run out today. 

Spartans will play Texas Tech on Saturday, in Game 2 of the National Semifinals (Final Four). 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on College Basketball'. Thanks for visiting this page.
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