Michigan State Faces Upstart North Dakota State in NCAA Tournament

Veteran Spartans look to avoid upset against Summit League champion Bison

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:35pm

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Michigan State, a No. 3 seed, faces No. 14 seed North Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Buffalo, New York. The Spartans are making their 28th consecutive March Madness appearance, led by seniors Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler, while the Bison are riding a four-game winning streak after capturing the Summit League regular season and tournament titles. Both teams feature balanced scoring attacks, setting up an intriguing matchup between the experienced Spartans and the upstart Bison.

Why it matters

This game represents a classic NCAA Tournament clash between a traditional powerhouse program in Michigan State and a smaller school in North Dakota State looking to pull off a major upset. The Spartans are aiming to avoid an early tournament exit, while the Bison are seeking their first-ever NCAA Tournament win.

The details

Michigan State is led by point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (15.7 ppg) and a frontcourt of Kohler (12.7 ppg), Coen Carr (11.6 ppg) and Cooper (10.8 ppg). North Dakota State is paced by Damari Wheeler-Thomas (14.4 ppg), Trevian Carson (12.0 ppg), Markhi Strickland (11.8 ppg) and Treyson Anderson (10.4 ppg). Strickland, a Western Michigan transfer, has embraced his father's message to "live in the moment" as the Bison aim to pull off the surprise.

  • The first-round matchup between Michigan State and North Dakota State will take place on Thursday, March 17, 2026.
  • Michigan State is making its 28th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, a record-tying mark.

The players

Carson Cooper

A senior forward for Michigan State who, along with fellow senior Jaxon Kohler, is looking to make the most of his final NCAA Tournament opportunity.

Jaxon Kohler

A senior forward for Michigan State who, along with fellow senior Carson Cooper, is looking to lead the Spartans deep into the NCAA Tournament.

Markhi Strickland

A Western Michigan transfer who has taken to heart his father's message to "live in the moment" as North Dakota State aims to pull off the upset.

Noah Feddersen

A North Dakota State forward who grew up in Wisconsin and recalls attending a Michigan State at Wisconsin game when he was 11 years old, giving him a unique perspective on facing the Spartans.

Tom Izzo

The veteran head coach of Michigan State who has cautioned his players to "not take anything for granted" after the Spartans' recent struggles in the Big Ten Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“I think both of us are playing our best basketball, so it's understanding how we can impact winning, how we can impact it now at the highest stage.”

— Carson Cooper, Senior Forward, Michigan State

“He just said live in the moment. Don't think about anything else besides the moment and that's what I've been doing.”

— Markhi Strickland, Western Michigan Transfer, North Dakota State

“Growing up, watched a lot of March Madness. Now to see North Dakota State up there and to be with this team is definitely special.”

— Noah Feddersen, Forward, North Dakota State

What’s next

The winner of the Michigan State-North Dakota State matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between the 6th-seeded UCLA Bruins and the 11th-seeded Drake Bulldogs in the East Region second round on Saturday, March 19.

The takeaway

This first-round clash between the experienced Spartans and the upstart Bison represents a classic David vs. Goliath scenario in the NCAA Tournament, with North Dakota State looking to pull off a major upset and earn the program's first-ever tournament victory against a storied Michigan State program seeking to avoid an early exit.