Michigan State vs. Texas Tech results: Red Raiders advance to first championship game

Jacob Janower

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Michigan State vs. Texas Tech results: Red Raiders advance to first championship game image

Texas Tech flexed its defensive muscles on Saturday to beat Michigan State 61-51 and advance to the national championship game.

To nobody’s surprise, both defenses were impressive. At one point in the first half, there was a stretch when neither team made a field goal in over five minutes of play.

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The Red Raiders were able to break the game open in the second half and extend the lead to double digits, thanks in large part to a flurry of baskets by Matt Mooney, who scored 22 points on the night. The resilient Spartans fought back to get the deficit down to as little as one, but Jarrett Culver, who didn’t make a field goal in the first half, made a key layup and 3-pointer to put the game away. 

With the win, Texas Tech advances to its first ever national championship game. It will play Virginia, which will also try to win its first title. 

Sporting News tracked scoring updates and highlights from the 2019 Final Four. Follow along below.

Michigan State vs. Texas Tech results, updates, highlights

11:07 p.m.: Texas Tech scores the final nine points and wins 61-51. It is headed to the national championship game!

11:04 p.m.: Missed 3 by Goins; Odiase gets the rebound and hits two free throws at the other end. A trip to the national championship game is getting closer for Texas Tech.

11:02 p.m.: Culver hits a 3. That may be the dagger! 

11:01 p.m.: McQuaid misses an open 3 that would have tied the game. Culver makes one of two free throws on the other end. It's 55-51 Tech.

10:58 p.m.: Henry goes to the hoop to cut it to one. Culver responds with a layup to raise Texas Tech's lead back up to three.

10:57 p.m.: Aaron Henry makes two free throws. It's 52-49 with three minutes to play.

10:48 p.m.: This one isn't done yet. Tillman hits two free throws and it's a five-point game. 

10:46 p.m.: Now McQuaid injures his foot on a jumper. He will come out.

10:45 p.m.: Michigan State has cut the lead down to seven, but Owens is back in the game. 

10:42 p.m.: Owens has come out of the locker room but hasn't entered the game yet. 

10:38 p.m.: Winston makes a 3 and Culver responds with his first field goal of the night. 

10:37 p.m.: Mooney just can't miss. He has 20 points and four 3s. 

10:29 p.m.: Mooney with another 3! The lead is in double digits. 

10:27 p.m.: After Michigan State gets a basket back, Mooney hits a 3 and it's now a nine-point lead. 

10:26 p.m.: Kyler Edwards completes a three-point play and Texas Tech has its biggest lead of the game at eight points. 

10:22 p.m.: Potentially a bad break for Texas Tech. Shot-blocking extraordinaire Tariq Owens is down with an injury. 

10:17 p.m.: Both teams still having turnover problems. Nine and six for Michigan State and Texas Tech respectively. 32-28 Red Raiders at the first media timeout of the half. 

10:12 p.m.: Davide Moretti gets a 3 to put Texas Tech back up. 

10:10 p.m.: Aaron Henry gets a rebound and putback to start the half to tie the game.

9:48 p.m.: It's a 23-21 Texas Tech lead at halftime. 

9:47 p.m.: Tariq Owens is a shot-blocking machine.

9:43 p.m.: Winston gets Michigan State's first basket in a 6:34 span, hitting a 3 to inch the deficit to two points. 

9:42 p.m.: Mooney breaks the spell with a basket to put Texas Tech up five. 

9:38 p.m.: No field goals by either team in the last five minutes. Texas Tech still leads 21-18. 

9:32 p.m.: The Red Raiders are showing why they are the top defensive team in the country. They have held Michigan State to just 33 percent from the field. The bad news: Jarrett Culver has two fouls. 

9:25 p.m.: Texas Tech is now on an 8-0 run and has a 3-point lead. 

9:23 p.m.: Matt Mooney scores back-to-back baskets to tie it up at 16.

9:13 p.m.: McQuaid has the Spartans last six points and leads the team with nine. Michigan State is up 14-10. 

9:10 p.m.: A combined seven turnovers between the two teams in the early going. 

9:08 p.m.: Owens with a ferocious slam! 

9:05 p.m.: Defensive battle so far. It's 6-6 at the first media timeout. 

9:00 p.m.: Matt McQuaid and Tariq Owens both hit 3s for their respective teams to start the game. 

8:59 p.m.: Texas Tech wins the tip and we are underway. 

8:52 p.m.: The starting lineups for both teams as we get ready to begin. 

Jacob Janower