Michigan State's defense proved suffocating in the Second Round as the No. 3 seed Spartans held off No. 6 Louisville 77-69 at KeyBank Center. The Spartans controlled the early pace with two devastating scoring runs in the first period, building separation with an 8-2 surge that pushed their lead to 22-12. Michigan State's largest advantage reached 13 points midway through the second half after an 8-0 run made it 63-50, but Louisville refused to fold. The Cardinals mounted a furious rally in the final minute, with Ryan Conwell's three-pointer and J'Vonne Hadley's layup cutting the deficit to just four. But Michigan State's clutch free-throw shooting and a Carson Cooper dunk with seven seconds remaining sealed the NCAA Tournament victory. Despite Louisville's late-game heroics, the Spartans' defensive suffocation—including a 36-play scoring drought by Louisville in the second half—proved the difference down the stretch.