Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from gritty win over Oakland

1. Oakland continues to be a pest for MSU

Every time Michigan State and Oakland play, the game seems to be much closer than anticipated. This was just the latest example.

Michigan State built its lead to 15 in the second half before Oakland started to chip away. It felt like the 10-point lead was more like a two-possession game because the Grizzlies found their way back into the game on multiple occasions when it looked like it was over.

Just like every year.

Oakland would come back down, hit a 3-pointer, force a couple of turnovers, and the Spartans’ lead would be back in the single-digits. The Grizzlies just continue to be that team that frustrates the Spartans and plays them tough each and every year. Greg Kampe has never beaten Tom Izzo but you just get that feeling that one of these years, the Grizzlies are going to find a way.

Hopefully I’m wrong there, but Michigan State took care of Oakland by 12 on Tuesday night but not before the Grizzlies had their best offensive game of the season. The usual 25 percent 3-point shooting team shot 39 percent from the floor and put up 78 points against one of the best defensive teams in the country.

Michigan State, however, becomes the second Big Ten team this season to reach 10 wins.