Trice leads Michigan State over Virginia again 60-54

Michigan State's Travis Trice (20) goes up to dunk against Virginia's London Perrantes (32) during the first half of an NCAA tournament college basketball game in the Round of 32 in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Michigan State's Travis Trice (20) goes up to dunk against Virginia's London Perrantes (32) during the first half of an NCAA tournament college basketball game in the Round of 32 in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

By Associated Press March 22, 2015 4 min read

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Travis Trice received a text message Sunday from Golden State Warriors forward and former Michigan State player Draymond Green that read: “Don’t let this be your last game.”

The Spartans’ senior guard texted back, “It won’t.”

Trice made sure of that Sunday, scoring 23 points and helping Michigan State knock second-seeded Virginia out of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, 60-54.

The 6-foot, 175-pound Trice scored 13 of his team’s first 15 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including three 3-pointers, to help the Spartans build a 15-4 lead.

Branden Dawson added 15 points and nine rebounds for the seventh-seeded Spartans, who advanced to the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in the last eight seasons under coach Tom Izzo. The Spartans will play the winner of the Oklahoma-Dayton game in Syracuse, New York on Friday.