COL BKB: Michigan State 82, Connecticut 73

DETROIT, April 4 (UPI) -- Michigan State beat Connecticut 82-73 Saturday in the opening semifinal of the NCAA Final Four in its bid for a third national college basketball title.

Kalin Lucas scored 21 points to lead the Spartans (31-6). Raymar Morgan added 18 points for Michigan State, which will play in Monday's final against the winner of Saturday's second semifinal between North Carolina and Villanova.

The Spartans are just the 13th team in Final Four history to play in their home state and the first since Duke played in Charlotte in 1994.

The Spartans, the second seed from the Midwest Region, beat top overall seed Louisville in the Elite Eight. They are appearing in their nation's-best fifth Final Four in the last 11 years and are hoping to add to their 1979 and 2000 championships.

Connecticut (31-5) was the No.1 seed from the West Region. Hasheem Thabeet scored 17 points and Stanley Robinson added 15 points and 13 rebounds for Connecticut.