Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from tight win over Oakland

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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 3: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts on the sideline during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Breslin Center on December 3, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. Annual Oakland matchup keeps getting better

Let’s face it, this game is always good. Michigan State and Oakland square off each year and the Spartans have won each matchup. Greg Kampe has the utmost respect for Tom Izzo and Michigan State and proved that after the game, interrupting the Hall of Fame head coach’s press conference to give the Spartans major credit.

The Golden Grizzlies aren’t just your average mid-major basketball program, but rather one of the better teams in the state and one that will always put up a good fight. The Golden Grizzlies looked like they were on the verge of their first upset in the annual bout, but they faded in the final couple of minutes.

Michigan State ended up pulling away in the final minutes of the game thanks to some big shots by Cassius Winston, but the Golden Grizzlies were neck-and-neck with the Spartans for the better part of 35 minutes.

This is an annual matchup that never seems to disappoint even though it’s been dominated by Michigan State. For as long as Kampe is the head coach, the Golden Grizzlies are always going to give the Spartans fits.

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