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Duke toppled as Final Four set in US college basketball’s ‘March Madness’
LOS ANGELES, April 1, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Top-seeded Duke University and their
superstar Zion Williamson were toppled by Michigan State Sunday as the Final
Four were set in the NCAA collegiate basketball championship.
The Blue Devils, crowned NCAA champions six times under iconic coach Mike
Krzyzewski, fell 68-67 to bow out of the “March Madness” knockout competition
that is one of the highlights of the US sporting calendar.
Kenny Goins drained a three-pointer with 35 seconds left that put the
Spartans ahead for good and Duke went scoreless on their final three
possessions as the second-seeded Michigan State reached the semi-finals.
Duke saw their season end in the quarter-finals dubbed the Elite Eight for
the second straight year.
Williamson scored 24 points with 14 rebounds, three steals and three
blocked shots in what was almost certainly the finale of his collegiate
career.
At 18, he has already drawn comparisons to NBA superstar LeBron James and
is expected to announces his plans to enter next June’s NBA draft, in which
he is a likely No. 1 choice.
Duke wasn’t the only favorite to miss out on a trip to the Final Four,
which will take place April 6-8 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Auburn reached the semi-finals for the first time with a 77-71 overtime win
over Kentucky — having already beaten perennial contenders Kansas and North
Carolina.
Texas Tech are also in the Final Four for the first time after beting
Gonzaga 75-69.
Michigan State will play Texas Tech in one national semi-final Saturday in
Minneapolis. Auburn will take on the University of Virginia, who advanced
with an 80-75 overtime win over Purdue.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0808 hrs