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Michigan State Basketball: 5 most memorable plays from win over Duke

By Connor Muldowney

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks the ball against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks the ball against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans hits a three point basket late in the game against Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans hits a three point basket late in the game against Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

1. Kenny Goins makes the shot of his career

Over the years, Michigan State has had some memorable NCAA Tournament moments in which fans remember exactly where they were when they happened.

The Kenny Goins 3-pointer with 34 seconds left will be one of those moments and you could argue that this was the most memorable of the Tom Izzo era.

Before this, Kenny made another big three to tie the game at 56-56 but shortly after with the game knotted up at 58-58, Zion Williamson blocked what looked to be a wide open 3-pointer from the top of the circle. Would Goins get another chance?

Almost exactly five minutes later, the Spartans ran a play down one and it was supposed to go to either Cassius Winston or Xavier Tillman, but Goins slipped out to the perimeter and realized there was no one around him. This would be a career-defining moment for the fifth-year senior. Would he make a big three to give Michigan State a late two-point lead or would he miss, likely ending the Spartans’ season?

Goins made the biggest shot in recent Spartan history.

If you weren’t jumping up and down, screaming at the top of your lungs after this make, you probably don’t have a pulse.

Next. 5 reasons Michigan State can win the national title. dark

After the game, Goins admitted that he knew the shot was in the second it left his hands. The former walk-on got to live out his childhood dream on Sunday night, making the biggest shot on the biggest stage against the tournament’s most feared team.

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