Michigan State Defeats Louisville in NCAAB Clash
Saturday, March 21, 2026, 2:45 PM ET · KeyBank Center
Michigan State Spartans 77, Louisville Cardinals 69, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Louisville Cardinals vs Michigan State Spartans?
Michigan State Spartans beat Louisville Cardinals 77-69 at KeyBank Center on March 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Louisville Cardinals vs Michigan State Spartans?
Michigan State Spartans were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -265 (about 73% implied). The favorite won.
In a competitive matchup, the Michigan State Spartans secured a 77-69 victory over the Louisville Cardinals at the KeyBank Center. This game was notable as it showcased two teams with strong records, with Michigan State finishing the regular season at 27-7 and Louisville at 24-11. The Spartans entered the game with a home record of 4-1 in their last five games, while the Cardinals had a perfect home record of 4-0 but struggled on the road with a 2-4 away record in their last six outings.
Both teams had shown mixed form leading into this contest. Michigan State had lost their last two games, including a narrow 84-88 defeat to the UCLA Bruins and an 80-90 loss to the Michigan Wolverines. Their scoring average over the last ten games was 78.5 points, with an average of 77.2 points allowed. In contrast, Louisville had a record of 6-4 in their last ten games and had averaged 82.5 points scored and 75.7 points allowed. However, they were coming off a loss to the Miami Hurricanes, which snapped a brief winning streak.
The betting market reflected a slight edge for Michigan State, with DraftKings setting the spread at -5.5 in favor of the Spartans. The total was set at 151.5, indicating expectations for a moderately high-scoring game. The moneyline odds favored Michigan State at -265, while Louisville was priced at +215.
As the game progressed, Michigan State managed to maintain a lead that they built upon in the second half. Key scoring plays included a 27-foot three-point jumper by Isaac McKneely, which brought Louisville to within ten points at 62-72. However, Michigan State responded effectively, with Trey Fort hitting free throws to extend their lead. The Spartans also saw contributions from Ryan Conwell, who made a significant three-pointer, and Carson Cooper, who capped off the scoring with a dunk that solidified their victory.
The performance of Michigan State's players was crucial, especially in the second half, where they demonstrated resilience and effective scoring under pressure. The Spartans' ability to capitalize on free throw opportunities and maintain composure in critical moments ultimately led them to victory over the Cardinals.
The conditions at the KeyBank Center were favorable for the game, contributing to an engaging atmosphere for both teams and their supporters. Fans witnessed a hard-fought contest that highlighted the competitive nature of college basketball, especially in the postseason.
Overall, this game served as a testament to Michigan State's strength at home and their ability to bounce back from recent setbacks, while Louisville will need to regroup after this loss as they look to improve their away performance in future matchups.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MSU -5.5 | 151.5 o -110 / u -110 | Louisville Cardinals +215 · Michigan State Spartans -265 |
Leaders
- PointsCoen Carr21Michigan State Spartans
- AssistsJeremy Fears Jr.16Michigan State Spartans
- ReboundsCoen Carr10Michigan State Spartans
- PointsRyan Conwell21Louisville Cardinals
- AssistsRyan Conwell4Louisville Cardinals
- ReboundsSananda Fru6Louisville Cardinals
Recent form
Michigan State Spartans
Last 10: 6-4Streak L278.5 scored · 77.2 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L84-88vs UCLA BruinsMar 14
- L80-90at Michigan WolverinesMar 8
- W91-87vs Rutgers Scarlet KnightsMar 6
- W77-64at Indiana HoosiersMar 1
- W76-74at Purdue BoilermakersFeb 27
- W66-60vs Ohio State BuckeyesFeb 22
- W82-59vs UCLA BruinsFeb 18
- L71-92at Wisconsin BadgersFeb 14
- W85-82vs Illinois Fighting IlliniFeb 8
- L73-76at Minnesota Golden GophersFeb 5
Louisville Cardinals
Last 10: 6-4Streak L182.5 scored · 75.7 allowed per game2-4 away
- L73-78at Miami HurricanesMar 12
- W62-58vs SMU MustangsMar 11
- W92-89at Miami HurricanesMar 7
- W77-62vs Syracuse OrangeMar 4
- L75-80at Clemson TigersFeb 28
- L74-77at North Carolina Tar HeelsFeb 24
- W87-70vs Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsFeb 21
- L85-95at SMU MustangsFeb 18
- W82-71at Baylor BearsFeb 14
- W118-77vs NC State WolfpackFeb 10
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Louisville Cardinals | Michigan State Spartans |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-63 | 26-55 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 47 |
| Three-pointers | 13-37 | 11-26 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 42 |
| Free throws | 4-6 | 14-19 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 74 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 39 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 21 | 28 |
| Assists | 16 | 22 |
| Steals | 5 | 4 |
| Blocks | 2 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 20 | 7 |
| Fast-break points | 9 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 24 |
| Fouls | 21 | 11 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 13 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 7 | 90 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half31-36Ryan Conwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half31-38Jordan Scott makes driving layup
- 2nd Half33-38Vangelis Zougris makes 1-foot dunk (Adrian Wooley assists)
- 2nd Half33-40Coen Carr makes 0-foot alley oop dunk (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half33-42Coen Carr makes 1-foot dunk (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half35-42Ryan Conwell makes 6-foot jumper
- 2nd Half37-42Sananda Fru makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half37-44Coen Carr makes layup (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half40-44Isaac McKneely makes 30-foot three point jumper (Sananda Fru assists)
- 2nd Half40-45Kur Teng makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-48Trey Fort makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half43-48Ryan Conwell makes 26-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half43-50Jeremy Fears Jr. makes 18-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half44-50Ryan Conwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-50Aly Khalifa makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kobe Rodgers assists)
- 2nd Half47-53Trey Fort makes 28-foot three point jumper (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half47-55Jeremy Fears Jr. makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-55Adrian Wooley makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ryan Conwell assists)
- 2nd Half50-57Coen Carr makes 10-foot jumper (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half50-58Coen Carr makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half50-59Jaxon Kohler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-60Jaxon Kohler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-63Jaxon Kohler makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half53-63Ryan Conwell makes 27-foot three point jumper (Isaac McKneely assists)
- 2nd Half53-66Coen Carr makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half56-66Adrian Wooley makes 23-foot three point jumper (J'Vonne Hadley assists)
- 2nd Half56-67Coen Carr makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-68Coen Carr makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-68Aly Khalifa makes 26-foot three point jumper (J'Vonne Hadley assists)
- 2nd Half59-69Jeremy Fears Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-70Jeremy Fears Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-72Carson Cooper makes 2-foot alley oop dunk (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half62-72Isaac McKneely makes 27-foot three point jumper (J'Vonne Hadley assists)
- 2nd Half62-73Trey Fort makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-74Trey Fort makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-74Adrian Wooley makes driving layup
- 2nd Half64-75Jeremy Fears Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-75Ryan Conwell makes 27-foot three point jumper (Adrian Wooley assists)
- 2nd Half69-75J'Vonne Hadley makes layup (Ryan Conwell assists)
- 2nd Half69-77Carson Cooper makes 1-foot dunk (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Michigan State Spartans, below favours Louisville Cardinals.
Venue
- KeyBank CenterBuffalo, NY
- Attendance17499
- OfficialsMichael Irving, Owen Shortt, Tommy Morrissey
Elsewhere
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond
- All-SEC F Mitchell reenrolls at Missouri, avoids transfer battle
- Duke's Coach K Court to have sponsorship logo for first time
- Sankey, SEC 'prepared to contest' judge's order in Louisiana