By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE dream season came to an end for Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr and the Michigan State Spartans, one game short of a place in the national championship game.

The Spartans suffered an 81-61 loss to the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Saturday night. Nairn Jr finished with two points and a team high five assists in 19 minutes. He helped Michigan State jump out to an early 14-6 lead when he delivered two assists on 5-7 field-goal shooting in the first 4:16, including a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arch.

Things went downhill for the Spartans as they went just 3-20 from the field the rest of the first half, and missed the next five three-pointers.

Duke took its first lead with 9:38 left in the first half at 18-16 and used a 27-8 run to push the lead to double-digits at 33-22 with 2:37 left. They took a 36-25 lead into the half and were never threatened for the remainder of the contest.

“It’s been a great year,” Nairn said in a Facebook post. “Thank you to everyone that supported me and my teammates, we appreciate it. God is good and we don’t take what we did this season for granted.

The Spartans finished the year at 27-12 and were runners-up in the Big 10 tournament. They entered the NCAA tournament as the No.7 seed in the East Region and defeated Georgia, Virginia, Oklahoma and Louisville en route to the Final Four.

“Not many can say they played in a Final Four, we did and we will cherish the moments we had for the rest of our lives,” Nairn said.

According to Steve Grinczel of MSUSpartans.com, junior guard Denzel Valentine has already tabbed himself and Nairn as team captains for next season.”

“Yeah, me and Tum will be the captains and we’ll be great leaders next year, and we’ll have the experience,” said Valentine. “Yeah, (Nairn) will be a captain. He’s a leader, and he’s just a freshman.”

Nairn asked Izzo to be the first to address the team after the Final Four loss to Duke.

“The way he spoke to Travis and the seniors, it was really cool. It was from the very, very depth of his heart, and that means this programme is in good shape,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “I think it’s going to be Denzel’s team, but I think Tum Tum is going to be Robin to his Batman. He’s infectious. Every day’s a good day. That’s what he starts every practice with - it’s a good day. I have to learn from him because all my days aren’t good days.”

As expectations loom large for the Spartans, Nairn said his offseason will be spent preparing himself for that possible leadership role.

“I’m going to take a couple weeks off and then it’s back to the film room to see how I can become a better player,” he said. “I will be better next year in every aspect of the game and I know we will be better as a team. We’re going to work harder and if I become captain, I’m going to grind harder every single day and make sure my teammates grind harder and I’m going to hold everybody accountable.

With three years of eligibility remaining in East Lansing, Nairn said his goal remains more clear now that the Spartans came so close to the top of the college basketball world.

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to get a national championship.”