Never forget 2016.
If you don’t recall, Tom Izzo’s No. 2-ranked Michigan State Spartans fell prey to the upstart Middle Tennessee State, losing by a score of 90-81.
This time around, Jaden Atkins and co. will do everything in their power to avoid a similar fate when they go head-to-head with the No. 15 Bryant Bulldogs.
Coming into the matchup, MSU sports a spiffy 27-6 record and an impressive first-place finish in the Big Ten. However, after polishing off eight consecutive wins, they finished the season on a low note, falling to 77-74 to Wisconsin in the Big Ten semifinal.
“I thought we had some guys that played really well,” Izzo said in a postgame interview. “…the negatives kinda reared its ugly head and that’s a shame in a game like that.”
On Bryant’s end — who, FYI, are from Smithfield, RI — they’re making their second-ever tourney appearance after losing to Wright State in 2022. The team, led by coach Phil Martelli Jr. and star guard Rafael Pinzon, closed their season strong and won their last six games. While that sounds impressive, they did lose big in an a major regular season test against St. John’s on Dec. 11. As expected for any 15-seed, this matchup will be a major test for them.
To see if the Spartans avoid another 2016 fiasco, tune in when the two clubs face off at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena on Friday, March 21.
Michigan State vs. Bryant date and time: When does Michigan State play Bryant in the first round?
Michigan State plays Bryant in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament today, March 21. Tip-off at TK is set for 10 p.m. ET.
The Post has you covered with a printable NCAA bracket featuring the full 68-team March Madness 2025 field.
What channel is the Michigan State vs. Bryant game on? How to watch Michigan State vs Bryant in the NCAA Tournament:
The Michigan State-Bryant game is airing on TBS. If you don’t have cable or an antenna, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to watch the game.
One we’re loving right now is Sling TV with the Sling Orange plan. Though there’s no free trial, you’ll get 50% off your first month of the base plan, bringing the total down to $23 for the first month ($45.99/month after).
The game will also stream live on Max ($9.99/month) with the Bleacher Report Sports add-on included. BR Sports streams games on TBS, TNT, and truTV live for Max subscribers.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
