Both teams trade misses in the first couple of minutes before Carson Cooper makes the floater to tie the game at 6-6. Neither team has made a 3-pointer yet as Jaemyn Brakefield is fouled by Cooper. Brakefield splits the free throws, but Ole Miss gets the rebound and it leads to a Pedulla 3-pointer and a 10-6 lead for Mississippi.

Ole Miss gets early lead, MSU down 6-4 in first stages of game

(Start of game) After the turnover, Malik Dia gets inside and makes the layup for the game’s first points. Jase Richardson misses a 3-pointer heave, then Sean Pedulla hits the jumper. Coen Carr can’t hit his first shot, but a Dia airball leads to Jaden Akins knocking down the floater to put MSU on the board. Dre Davis drives to the rim for the layup, but Carr takes the contact and scores from up close. Dia misses another three as Carr is fouled on a reach-in by Matthew Murrell, then an almost turnover from Michigan State leads to our first TV timeout. (15:32)

Tip-off

Sweet 16 action on Friday starts with Michigan State taking on Ole Miss. Michigan State wins the opening tip, but a traveling violation by Jeremy Fears gives the ball to Mississippi.

Preview

Michigan State continues its chase for a national championship, as the No. 2 seed Spartans take on No. 6 seed Ole Miss in Atlanta on Friday night.

Tom Izzo earned his 16th Sweet 16 appearance with a 71-63 victory over New Mexico in the round of 32, despite a slow start and a rough performance from Jase Richardson. After last Sunday’s win, Michigan State is one game away from its first Elite Eight appearance since 2019.

More: In Sweet 16, Tom Izzo and Chris Beard get a familiar rematch of 2019 Final Four

But the Spartans will have to get past a hungry Mississippi squad in its first NCAA Tournament since 2019. Chris Beard is looking to lead Ole Miss to its first Elite Eight appearance in school history, and help another SEC program move on in this tournament.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Kameron Goodwill.

South region

MICHIGAN STATE vs. MISSISSIPPI

▶ What: Regional semifinal

▶ Tipoff: 7:09 p.m. Friday, State Farm Arena, Atlanta

▶ TV: CBS

▶ Records: Mississippi 24-11, No. 6 seed; Michigan State 29-6, No. 2 seed

▶ Line: Michigan State by 2½

▶ Only previous meeting: Michigan State 74-66, March 14, 1999