NCAA Tournament in Charlotte: UNC, Michigan State advance, set to square off Saturday

The NCAA Tournament has descended upon the Queen City — and The Charlotte Observer has you covered.

Staff reporters Alex Zietlow and Shane Connuck, along with columnist Scott Fowler, will be passing along live observations as the NCAA Tournament action unfolds in the Spectrum Center on Thursday. See the section below for live updates. Refresh this page for the latest news. All times are Eastern.

Postgame reads in preparation for MSU-UNC matchup Saturday

▪ Scott Fowler: ‘We’ve got 5 games left’: UNC wears out Wagner, but Michigan State looms on Saturday

▪ Andrew Carter: UNC out of tune-ups after sloppy yet decisive win over Wagner; Michigan State up next

▪ Alex Zietlow: Michigan State’s explosive guards put on a show in Charlotte. A tough test awaits

North Carolina vs. Wagner live observations

FINAL: Carolina routs Wagner in a 90-62 thumping here in Charlotte. Happy baby blue-wearing fans are making their way out of Spectrum Center. RJ Davis was the leading scorer with 22 points, Armando Bacot posted 20 points, Charlotte native Jae’Lyn Withers scored 16 points and Cormac Ryan had 13. The Tar Heels will play Michigan State here on Saturday.

Second half

1:23: “Tar!” “Heel!” chants ramp up from the remaining crowd at Spectrum Center. UNC has nearly a 30-point lead as Wagner finishes out its final possessions.

1:36: Announced attendance this afternoon at Spectrum Center: 18,223.

3:45: RJ Davis. Dagger. The ACC Player of the Year nails a 3-pointer, and Carolina opens an 82-56 lead late. An all-around strong performance from UNC, which has four players in double-figures. Davis leads the way with 22 points.

8:20: That’ll get everyone excited: Jae’Lyn Withers throws it down with authority. The North Mecklenburg alum slams a dunk in his hometown, and the crowd loves it. Carolina leads, 70-50, at the second half’s under-eight timeout.

11:28: We’re getting closer to the intermission here in Charlotte. Spectrum Center just announced that all merchandise stores will close four minutes prior to the conclusion of this game in an effort to clear the arena sooner. The third game tonight, between Texas and Colorado State, is scheduled to tip at 6:50 p.m.

13:49: UNC has opened an 18-point lead, and another live look-in is on the big screen during a Wagner timeout. Only this time, the South Carolina-Oregon game was displayed alongside a shot of a singular fan. A young boy was standing toward the front with his eyes glued to the scoreboard, and the arena cameras sought him out and displayed his head shot in the corner of the video board for at least 15 seconds before zooming out and panning to the rest of the crowd.

15:10: With Carolina leading, 47-32, during the under-16 timeout, the video board shows a live look-in Terrence Shannon Jr. and the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Just before that look-in, Spectrum Center encouraged fans to show off their college colors. A handful of fans decked out in Tar Heels gear drew applause, but there probably wasn’t a moment louder than when a fan in a Duke t-shirt got thrown on the big screen to a chorus of boos. Same with a Kentucky fan.

15:52: As can be expected any time the Tar Heels are in Charlotte, Spectrum Center has been packed with Carolina blue-clad fans throughout this second game. Perhaps it’s a slightly smaller number in the building right now compared to tip-off with UNC in control since the start, but the arena remains mostly filled.

UNC vs. Wagner: First half

HALFTIME: UNC leads 40-28 at halftime, with Armando Bacot already posting a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) against a Wagner team that is giving up 4-6 inches of height at almost every position.

11:16: At the second TV timeout, UNC leads, 20-15. Still, 16th seed Wagner has acquitted itself well so far, especially given that the Seahawks only have seven available scholarship players. UNC is forcing the ball inside on practically every possession against undersized Wagner, which is a 24-point underdog.

14:42: During TV timeouts, the scoreboard at the Spectrum Center switches to other games in progress, which is why fans are happily watching Duquesne’s upset of Brigham Young, which continues to run as a “Live Look In” even after the UNC-Wagner game resumes. A good call by the scoreboard operator, as it’s nice to see what’s going on elsewhere in the country. In the meantime, Wagner ties the game at 13-all with 13:36 to go, led by Julian Brown’s six early points.

16:30: The Tar Heels started 3-of-3 from the field and jumped out to a 6-0 lead. UNC’s size will be a huge advantage in this one. Likely insurmountable. Armando Bacot starts out scoring six of his team’s first 10 points. One thing to look for: RJ Davis, reaching for a loose ball, gets popped in the face and has to stop a bloody nose with gauze. Still playing now.

2:45 p.m., Tip off: And away we go! The 1-seeded Tar Heels face off against the 16-seeded, seven-scholarship-players-rostered Wagner team.

Michigan State vs. Mississippi State updates

FINAL: The Spartans advance with a 69-51 win over Mississippi State thanks to the shot-making and athleticism of the Spartans’ two indelible guards, Jaden Akins and Tyson Walker. More to come on this one. These two guards will be a tough test for their presumable opponent, 1-seeded North Carolina. Tom Izzo approaches radio row after the game overcome with emotions. Perhaps that has to do with his son, Steven Izzo, getting in the game at the end. On to UNC-Wagner.

Second half

10:37: Just popping in here to say ... Jaden Akins has provided the highlight of the tournament so far. Transition dunk that pleases Charlotte. See below.

15:27: Hubbard has reentered the game. And so have the Bulldogs. Here they come, thanks to a 1-2-2 quarter-court press that is giving the Tom Izzo-led Spartans some headaches. Switching defenses helped the Bulldogs cut into the lead in the first half — going from man-to-man to a 2-3 zone — and it seems to be helping again. This press transforms into man once the ball passes halfcourt.

17:59: Josh Hubbard, the Bulldogs’ life in the first half, goes up for a fastbreak layup, has it blocked from behind, and then Malik Hall lands on him, sticking his forearm to his head. Hubbard prostrates on the ground for about a minute. Game has to stop. Getting looked at on the end of the bench now. Spartans still lead, 35-29.

HALFTIME: Michigan State leads Mississippi State, 31-24, in a game of runs and “This is our time” sermons and several ambitious alley-oop attempts. Malik Hall sinks a layup as time expires to put the game at a seven-point margin. The Spartans are 13-for-24 (54%) from the field and 5-of-13 from the 3-point line. That’s better than the Bulldogs’ 10-25 from the field. Mississippi State’s saving grace? Freshman Josh Hubbard. The 5-foot-10 guard made of steel has 13 points, including the team’s last 3.

Spectrum Center is playing the (11) Duquesne-(6) BYU game at halftime, and the crowd is into it. March Madness is universal.

MSU vs. MSU: First half

7:55: Mississippi State has come alive a bit to cut the game’s margin to five. Now 20-15, Michigan State still leading. A lot of that run is thanks to Josh Hubbard, the 5-foot-10 freshman out of Madison, Wisconsin, who went on a 5-point run himself just now. One injury update: DJ Jeffries, the Bulldogs’ senior guard, wore a hip brace on the bench at that last timeout. He’s back on the floor to start the second half of the first half.

12:14: AJ Hoggard scoops up a steal and kicks it ahead by Tyson Walker, who pulls up for a transition 3 that nestles through and sends the lower bowl into a ruckus. Hoggard then skips down court and looks to his fans, kisses his jersey and screams, “This is our s---!” Indeed it is. For now it’s the Spartans up over the Bulldogs, 18-8. All Izzo. Michigan State unbothered by Mississippi State’s length. Adjustments incoming.

15:52: Before tip off, Tolu Smith told his Mississippi State team that “it’s time to shock the world.” Gotta love these March platitudes. The first TV timeout is here, and Michigan State leads, 8-4, over Mississippi State.

Michigan State vs. Mississippi State, 12:15 p.m.: Tip off! Madness has arrived!

12 p.m.: Y’all know Tom Izzo of Michigan State, one of the last few remaining of the old guard coaches in college basketball. Eight Final Fours. One national championships. Ten Big Ten regular season titles and six Big Ten tournament titles. But what about the Bulldogs’ Chris Jans? He’s in his second season after leading the Bulldogs to a 21-win, NCAA Tournament season in 2022-23. He was one of three coaches to begin their first season with at least 11 consecutive victories. The new guard vs. the old. Coming up.

Pregame vibes fill Charlotte’s Spectrum Center

11:50 a.m.: The upper bowl filling out nicely for the game vs. the MSUs. Lower bowl still needing some work. But make no mistake: This is a Michigan State crowd. “Go Green, Go White” chants bounce like an errant three caromes off the rim. No North Carolina connections in today’s starting lineup between either team, but the winner of this one will play the 1-seeded Tar Heels on Saturday (barring a mammoth upset later today). Some important players to know: Tyson Walker leads MSU in scoring with 18.2 points per game, while Mississippi State has largely a two-headed scoring attack in Josh Hubbard (17.1 ppg) and Tolu Smith III (15.2).

11:05 a.m.: March Madness is here! The NCAA Tournament has officially arrived in Charlotte for the 24th time, and the first of four games in uptown’s Spectrum Center on Thursday will begin in an hour and 15 minutes. The energy is palpable.

Like all 8-9 games, the Michigan State vs. Mississippi State contest is expected to be close. DraftKings Sportsbook shows the Michigan State Spartans to be one-point favorites over Mississippi State, with the over/under set at 130.5.

Want to snag a last second ticket? Need help with streaming the matchup? Visit our one-stop shop for all your viewing needs here.

How to watch NCAA Tournament games in Charlotte

• (9) Michigan State vs. (8) Mississippi State: CBS, 12:15 p.m. tip.

• (1) UNC vs. (16) Wagner/Howard: CBS, 2:45 p.m. tip.

• (10) Colorado State vs. (7) Texas: TNT, 6:50 p.m. tip.

• (15) Saint Peter’s vs. (2) Tennessee: TNT, 9:20 p.m. tip.