It’s the second ever Elite Eight matchup between head coaches Bruce Pearl and Tom Izzo, with the first coming while Pearl was at Tennessee in 2010. Izzo and Michigan State won the game, but Pearl will look to get some revenge on Sunday.

Chaney Johnson came up big with two big baskets. The first was with 8:59 when he connected on a basket to put the Tigers up 52-40. The next was when Michigan State had cut the Auburn lead to 52-44. Johnson scored a basket with 7:12 remaining to give the Tigers a 54-44 lead.