Family Life

03.29.10 | FL News Team

Duke and Michigan State punched their tickets to the NCAA Tournament Final Four on Sunday. The Blue Devils became the only number-one seed to move on over the weekend with a 78-71 win over third-seeded Baylor in the South Regional final at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Nolan Smith scored a career-high 29 points and Jon Scheyer added 20 for Duke, which improved to 33-and-5. The Blue Devils advanced to the 15th Final Four in school history, but first since 2004. Fifth-seeded Michigan State is headed back to the Final Four for the second straight year after a 70-69 win over sixth-seeded Tennessee in the Midwest Regional final at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. Raymar Morgan's free throw with 1.8 seconds left was the difference as the Spartans improved to 28-and-8. Durrell Summers hit four three-pointers en route to 21 points for MSU, which lost to North Carolina in last year's national championship game. It's the Spartans' sixth Final Four in 12 years.

 On Saturday, second-seeded West Virginia and fifth-seeded Butler secured spots in the Final Four. The Mountaineers advanced to their second-ever Final Four with a 73-66 win over top-seeded Kentucky in the East Regional final in Syracuse. Da'Sean Butler scored 18 points for West Virginia, which improved to 31-and-6. In the West Regional final, Gordon Hayward scored 22 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 63-56 triumph over second-seeded Kansas State in Salt Lake City. Butler advanced to its first-ever Final Four while extending the nation's longest current winning streak to 24 games.

 The NCAA Tournament now moves on to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the Final Four on Saturday. Butler will battle Michigan State in the first semifinal, followed by Duke and West Virginia in the nightcap. The winners of those two games meet for the national championship on Monday.