The No. 10 seeded New Mexico Lobos (27-7, 17-3 MWC) take on No. 2 Michigan State (28-6, 17-3 Big 10) today in Cleveland, Ohio, with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
New Mexico point guard Donovan Dent has been busy showing the world why he was named Mountain West Player of the Year.
Dent has posted seven straight games with at least 20 points and five rebounds, which is the longest active streak in the country. He led the Lobos with 21 points and six assists in their 75-66 win over Marquette in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
That was New Mexico’s first NCAA Tournament win since 2012. Dent’s ability to score from anywhere on the court has helped power the Lobos to their 27th win of the season, which is tied for No. 5 all-time in program history, but they aren’t done yet.
New Mexico needed a late 10-0 run to put Marquette away. Doing so marked the Lobos’ fifth victory in their past six games. Their only loss in that stretch was an upset at the hands of Boise State in the Mountain West semifinals.
Michigan State beat Bryant in the opening round, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in the past 13 years that the tournament has been held. It was canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19.
The Spartans rank No. 8 in the latest AP Top 25 poll and on Kenpom.com, and they’re No. 11 in the NCAA’s NET rankings. They captured the Big 10 regular-season title and have won nine of their past 10 games. Their only loss in that stretch was a three-point setback against Wisconsin in the Big 10 semifinals.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
New Mexico vs. Michigan State Odds
Michigan State is a 7.5-point college basketball odds favorite on BetMGM, and the Over/Under is at 147.5 points.
The Moneyline is at -325 for Michigan State and +260 for New Mexico.
New Mexico vs. Michigan State Channel
The second round NCAA Tournament game featuring New Mexico and Michigan State will be televised on TNT.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. ET.
New Mexico vs. Michigan State Prediction
I predict Michigan State wins 77-72.
Michigan State’s win over Bryant underscored exactly why the Spartans are ranked in or near the top 10 in most polls.
The Spartans are deep. Five players finished the game in double digits, led by sophomore Coen Carr’s 18 points, and nine players scored at least two points.
The Spartans are also a dominant rebounding team. They’re No. 2 in the Big 10 with 40.2 rebounds a game, and 10 players grabbed at least one rebound. Carr, Jaxon Kohler, and Carson Cooper led the way with nine each.
New Mexico has plenty of talented rebounders in its own right. The Lobos lead the Mountain West with 39.2 a game. Nelly Junior Joseph is the only player in the conference averaging a double-double (14.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg), and he needs just 10 rebounds to set New Mexico’s single-season record.
Dent’s speed and ability to score and Joseph’s dominance in the paint should keep the game close for New Mexico, but Michigan State’s depth will prove too much in the end.
