Michigan State vs. Kansas State final score, results: Wildcats on to Elite Eight, history made at MSG

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Sara Tidwell
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A battle of state colleges produced the best game of the 2023 NCAA Tournament thus far. Kansas State, led by point guard Markquis Nowell, knocked off Michigan State 98-93 in overtime to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Nowell set an NCAA Tournament record with 19 assists to go with 20 points.

The East Region was wide open after No. 1 Purdue and No. 5 Duke were knocked out of the competition early. Kansas State will face the winner of the late Thursday game between No. 4 Tennessee and No. 9 Florida Atlantic.

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The Spartans were making their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019, when they reached the Final Four before falling to Texas Tech. They came in hot after knocking out No. 2 Marquette 69-60.

This was Tom Izzo's 15th appearance in the regionals and 17th overall for the Spartans since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

BENDER: Nowell becomes king of New York after Sweet 16

The Wildcats were making their 18th Sweet 16 appearance and first since 2018 when they lost in the Elite Eight to Loyola Chicago. They, too, came in hot after unseating No. 6 seed Kentucky 75-69.

Nowell has been a force in the Wildcats' offense. He was one assist shy of posting consecutive double-doubles in his first two NCAA Tournament games, ending the weekend with a game-high 27 points, nine assists and three steals on Sunday. He had the most points by a Wildcat in March Madness since Rodney McGruder scored 30 against Southern Mississippi on March 15, 2012.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Michigan State vs. Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament. Follow below for complete results from the March Madness Sweet 16 game.

MORE: Watch NCAA Tournament games live with Sling TV

Michigan State vs. Kansas State score

  1 2 OT F
Michigan State 38 44 11 93
Kansas State 43 39 16 98

Michigan State vs. Kansas State live updates, highlights from 2023 March Madness

(All times Eastern)

It's worth pointing out and begs the question:

Final: Kansas State 98, Michigan State 93

9:02 p.m.: What a game. MSU loses the ball on their final possession and Nowell scoops it from the floor, taking it down and laying it in as the final buzzer rings across the Garden. The Wildcats will advance to the Elite Eight and play the winner of Florida Atlantic/Tennessee, which tips off as soon as they clear the court.

9 p.m.: Massoud hits a three and Nowell breaks the record for most assists in a single NCAA Tournament game with 19, which pushes the Wildats up 96-93 with 12 seconds on the clock. Izzo uses his final timeout. There's still a chance for the Spartans, will they be able to grab it?

8:53 p.m.: Another play under review. 17 seconds on the clock in the first overtime, officials deciding if Hoggard's fingers touched the shot as it left Nowell's hands. Izzo uses a timeout, and Jerome Tang answers with a timeout of his own as they gather back on the court to resume play.

8:47 p.m.: Hoggard is carrying the game on his shoulders with 25 points. He's 10-for-11 from the stripe and managed to pull MSU ahead with under two minutes left in overtime. Nowell is one away from tying the NCAA Tournament assist record with 17 and reties at 92. This is the first overtime game of the tournament run this season, and honestly, the most intense.

8:38 p.m.: MSU ties it at 82 and the game goes into overtime at Madison Square Garden. Another five minutes are added to the clock.

End of regulation: Michigan State 82, Kansas State 82

8:31 p.m.: Previous play went under review, was ruled MSU ball. Ismael Massoud hits a three from the logo on the return.

8:15 p.m.: Hauser is not going down without a fight. He has 18 points after hitting one from the deep corner, and is backed by Hoggard who has 16 points. The Spartans and Wildcats are back in the limbo, both trying to be the team that breaks away and lunges ahead. There's six minutes on the clock until one of them punches a ticket to the Elite Eight in the East region and the question is still very unanswered: Who will it be?!

8:10 p.m.: Nowell has racked up 12 points and 14 assists, even with a bad ankle. He's four assists away from breaking the NCAA Tournament record of 18. Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes has weighed in with his own encouragement for the guard.

8:05 p.m.: MSU takes the lead for a second time, but again, it's short lived. Nowell is back on the floor. He drilled a three-point jumper before landing on his sore ankle and stumbling across the arc.

7:56 p.m.: Nowell goes down with a right ankle injury while attempting a layup. Cameras cut to him sitting on the bench with the athletic trainer taping him up after the commercial break. MSU shrinks KSU's lead to 2 with Nowell off the floor.

7:45 p.m.: We're back. TBS reporting that KSU's Nowell is the third player to score 30+ points and 30+ assists through the Sweet 16 since assists became official in 1984. He joins John Crotty (1988-89) and Jason Kidd (1992-93).

He had 10 assists in the first half alone.

Halftime: Kansas State 43, Michigan State 38

7:25 p.m.: MSU comes back with the ball after a famous Izzo last second timeout, but fumbles under pressure. Walker turns it over, but Kansas State doesn't score. Sills is in foul trouble as they head into the locker room for the break. Hauser still leads the Spartans with 12 points, Johnson leads the Wildcats with 14 of his own.

7:12 p.m.: It's a star-studded and supported affair at the Garden tonight for the green and white.

7:06 p.m.: MSU on a two minute scoring drought. Walker makes it look easy, but it's still not good enough against Kansas State, who has reclaimed the lead as halftime nears closer. MSU only had one turnover in the first 12 minutes, but has collected three more in the last four minutes. They're down 30-26 at the third TV timeout, Johnson proving a rather tough opponent.

6:55 p.m.: MSU with their first lead of the evening heading into the second TV timeout, 19-18. Hauser leads the Spartans with eight points in eight minutes.

6:48 p.m.: MSU already has five offensive rebounds and two second chance points. They've bounced back and forth between possessions, keeping the game tight. The scoreboard is tied at the first TV timeout, 17-17.

6:41 p.m.: Hauser's three boosted him to 1,000 career points.

6:40 p.m.: Kansas State wins the tipoff and opens the scoring on a Johnson layup. Michigan State gets started off an alleyoop dunk by Sissoko and Hauser ties it with a three-pointer after David N'Guessan misses both free throws.

6:15 p.m.: Jersey colors seem to be the traditional dark green for MSU, and white with purple decal for Kansas State.

6:09 p.m.: Odds are in the Spartans favor tonight, despite being the lower seed. BetMGM has them as a -1.5 favorite.

6:08 p.m.: The starting five lineups have been released.

For the Spartans:

  1. Tyson Walker
  2. Jaden Akins
  3. A.J. Hoggard
  4. Joey Hauser
  5. Mady Sissoko

For the Wildcats:

  1. Markquis Nowell
  2. Cam Carter
  3. Desi Sills
  4. Keyontae Johnson
  5. Nae'Qwan Tomlin

5:51 p.m.: Both teams have arrived to the madness at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The squads are locked in for this highly anticipated 3 vs. 7 matchup. Tickets to the Elite Eight are within arms reach.

What channel is Michigan State vs. Kansas State on today?

  • TV channel: TBS
  • Live stream: NCAA March Madness Live, Sling TV

Basketball fans hoping to watch the battle of Mr. March's Spartans and the last-standing Wildcats can find it on TBS. There will also be a live stream of the game available on NCAA March Madness Live and Sling TV.

MORE: Watch NCAA Tournament games live with Sling TV

Michigan State vs. Kansas State start time

  • Date: Thursday, March 23
  • Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

The Sweet 16 game between Michigan State and Kansas State will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan.

March Madness schedule 2023

Sweet 16

Thursday, March 23

Game Time (ET) TV
(3) Kansas State vs. (7) Michigan State 6:30 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
(4) UConn vs. (8) Arkansas 7:15 p.m. CBS
(4) Tennessee vs. (9) FAU 9 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
(3) Gonzaga vs. (2) UCLA 9:45 p.m. CBS

Friday, March 24

Game Time (ET) TV
(1) Alabama vs. (5) San Diego State 6:30 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
(1) Houston vs. (5) Miami 7:15 p.m. CBS
(6) Creighton vs. (15) Princeton 9 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
(2) Texas vs. (3) Xavier 9:45 p.m. CBS

Elite Eight

Saturday, March 25

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD 6 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
TBD vs. TBD 8:30 p.m. TBS, Sling TV

Sunday, March 26

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD 2 p.m. CBS
TBD vs. TBD 4:55 p.m. CBS

Final Four

Saturday, April 1

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD 6 p.m. CBS
TBD vs. TBD 8:30 p.m. CBS

National championship

Monday, April 3

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD 9 p.m. CBS
Author(s)
Sara Tidwell Photo
Sara Tidwell

Sara Tidwell is an editorial intern with The Sporting News.