COLUMBUS, Ohio — Tom Izzo preached the little things all week as the difference between Michigan State basketball advancing in the NCAA tournament or taking a quick trip home.
A.J. Hoggard listened and responded. So did unlikely hero Carson Cooper.
The seventh-seeded Spartans went on a 28-13 run midway through the second half and turned up their defense to hold 10th-seeded Southern California scoreless for more than five minutes en route to a 72-62 victory Friday at Nationwide Arena.
Joey Hauser scored 17 points with four 3-pointers and grabbed eight rebounds, while Hoggard, Tyson Walker and Jaden Akins combined for 35 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to lead MSU (20-12) on to Sunday’s second round.