No. 11 seed Syracuse shocks No. 3 Michigan State to advance to Sweet 16

Scott Gleeson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption NCAA tournament: Syracuse upsets Michigan State in second round SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Scott Gleeson breaks down No. 11 Syracuse's unlikely win over No. 3 Michigan State.

A bubble team with a 50/50 chance of playing in the NCAA tournament a week ago, Syracuse is suddenly in the Sweet 16.

The Orange used their vaunted 2-3 zone to frustrate Michigan State and got just enough offense from its core three to beat the Spartans 55-53 in Sunday's down-to-the-wire second-round game in Detroit.

Syracuse guard Tyus Battle sunk a step back jumper with 47 seconds left to give the Orange the game's key basket. He then drained two free throws with six seconds left to help seal the win. Battle finished with 17 points.

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Down 52-49, Michigan State's All-American, Miles Bridges (11 points), had two chances to tie the game in the closing seconds but missed on two good-look three-point attempts. The heavily-favored Spartans (30-5) missed their last 13 shots, and scored just five points (all free throws) over the last 5:41.

Top catalyst Frank Howard (13 points) fouled out for Syracuse with 6:39 left in the game, limiting an already limited offensive team without one of its top scorers. No matter. The Orange locked in on defense, and scored just enough to steal the win.

Battle, Howard, and Oshae Brissett combined for 45 of the Orange's 55 points, while point guard Cassius Winston paced Michigan State with 15 points.

The Syracuse zone was so effective that Michigan State shot 25% from the field.

Syracuse (23-13) has won three NCAA tournament games, beating Arizona State in the First Four in Dayton and knocking out No. 6 TCU Friday before Sunday's upset. The Orange were considered one of the last bubble teams in the field of 68 by the NCAA selection committee.

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