NCAA BASKETBALL: Michigan State takes command early, routs North Dakota State

Carson Cooper matched his career high with 20 points and added 10 rebounds as No. 3 seed Michigan State rolled past 14th seed North Dakota State, 92-67, in a first-round East Region matchup of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Buffalo, N.Y.

Coen Carr contributed 17 points, while Jeremy Fears Jr. recorded 11 assists, helping the Spartans rack up 26 assists on 33 made field goals.

"I think this is what happens when you play with players for multiple years and stick with the same group," Fears said. "You build that chemistry, that bond. I know where Coop is going to be, Coop knows where I'm going to be. I can throw it to Coop with my eyes closed, and I know he'll catch it."

Cameron Ward added 13 points, and Jaxon Kohler had 12 points with nine rebounds for Michigan State (26-7), which bounced back from consecutive Big Ten losses to open its 28th straight NCAA Tournament with a win. The Spartans shot 63.0% in the second half and 58.9% for the game, setting up a second-round matchup Saturday against sixth-seeded Louisville.

"There weren't many guys that didn't play pretty well," Spartans head coach Tom Izzo said. "It's amazing when shots go in, you feel a little better about yourself, and I think it helps your defense."

For North Dakota State (27-8), Damari Wheeler-Thomas scored 16 points, and Trevian Carson added 11 points with seven rebounds and six assists. Treyson Anderson chipped in 10 points as the Bison saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. Wheeler-Thomas, the Summit League MVP, was scoreless in the first half but found his rhythm in the second.

"Just got more in a little flow through the second half," Wheeler-Thomas said. "We picked it up and had fight in the second half, and that's what we needed from the jump."

The Bison, Summit League regular-season and tournament champions, led 8-5 early before the Spartans went on an 18-2 run to take control at 23-10 with 11:38 left in the first half. Michigan State extended the lead with a 16-4 run late in the half to lead 45-25 at the break.

Michigan State’s dominance continued in the second half, including a 3-pointer by Spears that pushed the lead to 61-33 with 15:12 remaining. North Dakota State mounted a pair of 8-0 runs but never cut the deficit below 17 points after halftime.

With the win, Michigan State improved to 22-5 in Round of 64 games under Izzo.

—Field Level Media/Reuters