Michigan St defeats Oakland 79-70

Michigan St Edges Out Oakland in Non-Conference Thriller

In a tightly contested matchup, the Michigan State Spartans (H) emerged victorious over the visiting Oakland Golden Grizzlies with a 79-70 win on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena.

The game was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm early. The home team took an early lead but trailed by just three points at halftime, 39-36. However, Michigan State's offense began to click in the second half, outscoring Oakland 40-34 to build a nine-point advantage.

Oakland's inability to contain Michigan State's interior presence was a significant storyline throughout the contest. The Spartans' big men dominated the paint, with 42 rebounds and 11 blocks between them. This stifling defense forced Oakland into 17 turnovers, which the Spartans capitalized on with 22 points off turnovers.

The Golden Grizzlies' offense struggled to find its range, shooting just 43% from the field compared to Michigan State's 46%. However, Oakland's free throw shooting was a bright spot, with 92% accuracy from the charity stripe.

On the other hand, Michigan State's three-point shooting was on point, with six makes out of 22 attempts. This helped the Spartans maintain their lead throughout the second half and ultimately secure the win.

The largest leads of the game were 12 points for Michigan State and 7 points in favor of Oakland, showing the ebb and flow of the contest.

In terms of advanced statistics, Michigan State's true shooting percentage (55.5%) was a key factor in their victory. The Spartans' ability to score efficiently from all areas of the court gave them an edge over Oakland.

The win marks a significant non-conference matchup for Michigan State, providing a much-needed boost heading into Big Ten play.

Game Leaders:

* Michigan St:

+ 19 Assists

+ 11 Blocks

+ 4 Steals

+ 42 Rebounds (Off: 15, Def: 27)

+ 17 Free Throws Made

* Oakland:

+ 15 Assists

+ 8 Steals

+ 6 Rebounds

+ 12 Free Throws Made