The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 85-69 on March 22, 2026, to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. The game was played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. led the Spartans with 28 points, while sophomore forward Coen Carr added 17 points and 9 rebounds. Michigan State shot 54.7% from the field and held a significant rebounding advantage.
Michigan State, a No. 9 seed, will next face the No. 4 seed Kansas Jayhawks in the Midwest Regional semifinal in Detroit. The victory marks the program's first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019.
