• Michigan State lost 4-3 to Cornell in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament despite leading for most of the game.
• Cornell scored the game-winning goal with only 10 seconds left on the clock during a power play.

Lansing State Journal sports reporter Nathaniel Bott breaks down No. 1 Michigan State’s 4-3 season-ending loss against No. 4-seed Cornell in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.TOLEDO – A season that included two championships and a top-five ranking nearly the entire way ended with a thud for Michigan State on Thursday.

The Spartans, despite heavily outshooting and leading Cornell most of the game, were stunned when the Big Red scored the game-winning goal with just 10 seconds to play in a 4-3 Cornell victory Thursday night in this NCAA regional semifinal at the Huntington Center.A late power play opened the door for the upset. Cornell forward Ryan Walsh, who led the Big Red in points, found forward Sulliva Mack on the backdoor for the game-winner to end MSU’s season in heartbreaking fashion.MSU opened the scoring in the first period off after a defensive zone turnover from Cornell. Junior forward Joey Larson pounced on a loose puck and passed to a streaking Gavin O’Connell. The sophomore forward gathered and fired a shot into the top right corner over the glove of Cornell goaltender Ian Shane to put the Spartans in front.Cornell tied it when Walsh won a puck battle and found himself alone in the slot, where he delivered a shot past MSU goaltender Trey Augustine to level the game.

MSU would respond late in the first, when junior forward Charlie Stramel delivered a terrific no-look pass to Daniel Russell, who buried it with less than 29 seconds left in the first period.MSU controlled most of the middle frame, but Cornell’s Charlie Major ripped a one-timer in the MSU zone that found the back of the net, bringing the Big Red even. The game stayed tied for 17 seconds before a turnover behind the net led to junior forward Karsen Dorwart wrapping the puck around and depositing it in an empty net to restore the Spartans’ lead to 3-2.Cornell started the third period with a six-to-zero shot advantage and was dangerous in MSU’s zone, but the Spartans withstood the flurry of chances behind Augustine. But, with just under eight minutes left, Walsh scored his second of the game off a rebound to tie it up at 3-3.

What’s next

MSU’s season ends with a 26-7-4 record, a Big Ten regular season title, and Big Ten tournament championship.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

This story will be updated.

Live Updates

MSU vs. Cornell pregame

Based on the crowd for the first game, there were a lot of empty seats. Those are going to be filled with mainly MSU fans by the time the Spartans and Big Red drop the puck.

MSU will roll out its regular lineup tonight. Here’s how it looks for both sides.

MSU and Cornell starters have been announced. The anthem has been played by the MSU band. Puck drop coming momentarily.

Third Period

Final period is underway, Cornell with some good buzz in the opening minutes, but Augustine makes a couple nice saves.

Dorwart with a great chance off a feed from Russell, but Shane denies him. 3-2 game into the second media timeout, 8:21 remaining in the third period.

Ryan Walsh on the rebound scores his second of the game and Cornell ties it at 3-3 with 7:21 left in the third period. Final media timeout – 4:21 to play, MSU and Cornell are level at 3-3 after the Big Red find an equalizer in the third.

MSU commits a penalty with 1:39 to play and will be shorthanded. Matt Basgall to the box for tripping, and Cornell gets a dangerous chance late here to win this game.

Sullivan Mack scores on the power play with 8.5 seconds left to lift Cornell to a 4-3 upset win over the Spartans.

First period

Cornell turns it over in the defensive zone and the Spartans make them pay. Joey Larson finds Gavin O’Connell who snipes one past Cornell goaltender Ian Shane to give MSU a 1-0 lead with 12:40 left in the first period.

Cornell leading scorer Ryan Walsh wins a puck battle in MSU’s defensive zone and levels the game on a shot that beats MSU goaltender Trey Augustine with 4:58 left in the first period.

Cornell heading to the box with 49.5 seconds left in the first period. Dalton Bancroft nabbed with a cross-checking minor on MSU forward Tommi Mannisto. Daniel Russel scores on the power play just 20 seconds into it to give MSU a 2-1 lead.

End Period One: Michigan State 2, Cornell 1. O’Connell and Russell the goal scorers for the Spartans, who are outshooting the Big Red 12-5 through 20 minutes.

Second Period

Second period is underway. Spartans lead Cornell 2-1.

Larson is robbed right in front of the Cornell net by Shane. Spartans still lead 2-1 with 9:59 left in the second period.

Charlie Major scores for Cornell with 3:30 left in the second period to make it a 2-2 game. One-timer from the circle beats Augustine, and despite MSU leading the shots 27-7, the Big Red draw even.

Shane mishandles a puck behind the net and MSU capitalizes. It’s Karsen Dorwart who pulls the puck around and into the empty net just 17 seconds after Cornell ties the game.

End Period 2: Michigan State 3, Cornell 2. The Big Red drew even for a total of 17 seconds as Dorwart put the Spartans back up one through 40 minutes. MSU leads the shot department with 30, compared to nine for Cornell.

Boston University – Ohio State Recap

Boston University and Ohio State are underway at the Huntington Center in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament. Stay here for updates and for MSU and Cornell pregame lineups coming soon.

Joe Dunlap gives the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead, scoring on a rebound attempt with 10:53 left in the first period.

OSU leads 1-0 after a dominating first period, outshooting BU 15-2 in the first 20 minutes. The Terriers will be on the power play to start the second period, still just one shot away from tying this one up.

Cole Eiserman delivers a one-timer off a face-off win brings the Terriers level with 11:53 left in the second period.

Buckeyes answer on the man advantage with 7:07 left in the second period. Joe Dunlap nets his second goal of the game with a snapshot past BU goaltender Mikhail Yegorov.

BU gets another chance on the power play and converts. Quinn and Cole Hutson pass back-and-forth to each other, and Quinn Hutson fires a perfectly-placed shot over OSU goaltender Logan Terness. Back to a tie game, 2-2, under three minutes left in the second period.

Moments later, OSU gets a 2-on-1 break, and forward Max Montes beats Yegorov to restore the Buckeyes’ lead with 2:11 left in the second period.

12 seconds later, Matt Copponi jumps on a loose puck in front of the OSU net to bring it back level, 3-3. Three goals in a 42-second span here at the end of the second period.

BU jumps in front for the first time today. Aiden Celebrini takes a shot from the right circle that gets by Terness and the Terriers lead 4-3 with 17:42 left in the third period.

OSU gets a power play chance, but the Terriers gets a shorthanded chance on a break and BU forward Jack Hughes beats Terness to make it a two-goal lead.

Eiserman works his way into the zone and throws a backhand shot while on the goal line that sneaks past Terness. BU leads 6-3 with 11:50 remaining, second of the game for Eiserman.

Jack Harvey with a great individual effort to beat Terness and give BU a 7-3 lead with 5:42 remaining. Cole Hutson officially seals it with an empty-netter.

FINAL: Boston University 8, Ohio State 3

Contact Nathaniel Bott at [email protected] and follow him on X @Nathaniel _Bott