Head coach Tom Izzo and senior guard Travis Trice embrace while watching the final play Mar. 20, 2015, during the second round of the NCAA tournament in a game against Georgia at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Spartans defeated the Bulldogs, 70-63. Alice Kole /The State News
It was the Travis Trice show to begin the first half.
The senior guard was absolutely electric to start the game, scoring 13 consecutive points on an array of fast break layups and 3-point bombs early in the half to help give MSU the advantage at halftime, 23-18.
Virginia clamped down after a slow start and were helped by pulling down seven offensive rebounds. The Spartans were also limited by free throws, making just 2-of-6.
Freshman guard Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn and junior guard Denzel Valentine each have two fouls at halftime.
Trice finished the half with 13 points, and senior forward Branden Dawson has five points and a pair of blocks.
Trice nailed a 3-pointer to give the Spartans a 15-4 lead before the 14 minute mark.
Virginia nearly went six minutes without a bucket, but Virginia countered with a 5-0 run to pull within six. Sophomore guard Gavin Schilling countered with a one-handed dunk under with under 11 minutes to play.
Consecutive layups by Darion Atkins trimmed MSU's lead to five, 20-15, with five minutes to play.
Anderson split a trip at the line with under three minutes to play to make it a five point difference once again, 23-18.
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