Ishbia, Mat

Ishbia was a backup guard at Michigan State University in the early 2000s, and a member of the 2000 Spartan team that captured the National Championship.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Jan. 6, 1980

Career Highlights:
Ishbia attended Seaholm High School, where he averaged 23.0 points and 7.1 assists per game as a senior and was named team MVP and received all-state acclaim. He then enrolled at Michigan State University, making the basketball team as a walk-on. Mat was redshirted as a freshman in 1998-1999, but then played as a reserve in 1999-2000. That season, he was named All-Academic Big Ten, appeared in 18 games, and earned a varsity letter while scoring nine points over the entire season. The Spartans finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation with an overall record of 26-7. They were the Big Ten co-champion during the regular season, then won the Big Ten tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

In the tournament, the Spartans were the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region. After defeating Valparaiso, Utah, and Syracuse to reach the Regional Final, they beat Iowa State, 75-64, to capture the Regional and advance to the Final Four (Ishbia played in the game against Iowa State). Michigan went on to defeat Wisconsin in the National Semifinals and Florida in the Final (89-76) to capture the NCAA championship; Ishbia also played in the final against Florida.

In 2001, Ishbia played in 17 regular season games and scored five points as the Spartans finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in the nation with a record of 24-4. The Big Ten co-champions for the second straight season, they did not win the Big Ten tournament, but did received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Seeded No. 1 in the South Region, they again advanced to the Final Four, but lost to Arizona in the National Semifinal, 80-61. During the season, Ishbia was again named All-Academic Big Ten.

In 2002, his final season with the Spartans, Ishbia appeared in 13 games (including one start) and scored 14 points. Michigan State finished the season with an overall record of 19-11 (10-6 in the conference) and received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The No. 10 seed in the East Region, they lost to North Carolina State in the first round. Ishbia played in the game, but did not score.

Origin:
Birmingham, Michigan

Career Dates:
Ishbia played guard at Michigan State University from 1999-2002.

Physical description:
5'10", 165 pounds

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