Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from pull-away win over Oakland
![EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 13: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a play in the first half of a college basketball game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at the Breslin Center on December 13, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 13: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a play in the first half of a college basketball game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at the Breslin Center on December 13, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/3cbff05d2459e7928262500513dcb372948373e53651df384a0f824ce695e17d.jpg)
Oakland gave Michigan State basketball a little trouble on Sunday afternoon but the Spartans eventually pulled away. What’d we learn?
Nineteen meetings, 19 wins. Michigan State always gets a good fight from Oakland and this year was no different as the Grizzlies were within four at halftime before the Spartans pulled away for a 109-91 win.
It wasn’t pretty on the defensive end for either side, but if you like offense, Sunday’s game was a thing of beauty for you as a fan.
Michigan State had seven players score in double figures, led by Gabe Brown who had 20 off the bench. Three starters scored in double figures and four guys came off the bench to score at least 10. The Spartans easily had their best offensive showing of the season with 51 percent shooting from the floor and 41 percent from deep with 15-of-37 makes from 3-point range.
Defense was not great for MSU as Oakland shot 53 percent from deep, making 18 3-pointers. Two guys led the way as Jalen Moore and Rashad Williams combined for 62 points.
What’d we learn from the Spartans’ hot-shooting win?
3. Defense has been disappointing lately
Oakland is a team that isn’t afraid to shoot, even with a hand in defenders’ faces and that was pretty clear on Sunday afternoon. The Grizzlies were draining threes left and right and Michigan State wasn’t adjusting accordingly.
The Spartans couldn’t figure out how to slow Rashad Williams who has a constant green light and he dropped 36 points on this defense that is supposed to be “elite”. He and Jalen Moore combined for 62 of the Grizzlies’ 91 points.
The first half wasn’t great defensively as the Spartans surrendered 40 points and that kind of set the tone for the game — they gave up 51 in the second half. The Grizzlies ended up falling behind big late in the second half, but they gave Michigan State a tough time on the defensive end, making this the third straight shaky defensive performance for the Spartans.
With three plus perimeter defenders and a rim protector like Marcus Bingham Jr. (when actually on the floor) and plenty of athleticism, Michigan State should not be giving up 91 points to Oakland.