Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo proved that to be true when, with a minute left in Thursday's NCAA Tournament first-round game, he decided to empty the Spartans' bench and insert three reserves as MSU defeated Mississippi State 66-51.
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Izzo's son Steven and senior guard Davis Smith, son of two-time NFL All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler Steve Smith.
Davis Smith makes a 3-pointer at March Madness
First, Smith missed a 3-pointer and went back to the half-court near the half-court line to prepare for defense. But while Smith was setting himself up, Coen Carr grabbed the offensive rebound and passed the ball to Steven Izzo. Izzo, who initially thought he was going to shoot the ball himself, passed it to Smith, who hit a Steph Curry-esque 3-pointer to seal the Spartans' March Madness opening-round win.
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It was the second basket for Smith this season. He previously hit a two-pointer in Michigan State's win over Georgia Southern in November.
The No. 9 seed Spartans defeated the No. 8 seed Bulldogs 69-51 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament behind Tyson Walker's 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. With the win, Michigan State improved to 56-24 in the NCAA Tournament under Izzo.
Michigan State will now wait to learn its opponent for Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round matchup. No. 1 seed North Carolina and No. 16 seed Wagner are currently playing at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
