Michigan State Survives Scrappy First Half Against Oakland With Late Surge
If you tuned in expecting a casual holiday tune-up, Oakland had other plans. In what’s become an annual December tradition, Michigan State and Oakland squared off at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, and for the 24th straight time, Tom Izzo and Greg Kampe were on the sidelines - and yes, the Christmas sweaters made their return.
But this wasn’t just a feel-good matinee. Oakland came to play, and for the better part of the first half, they looked like the more locked-in team. The Golden Grizzlies brought the energy, the zone defense, and a chip on their shoulder - and Michigan State had to dig deep to wrestle back control before halftime.
A Gritty, Uneven Start
Right out of the gate, Oakland made it clear they weren’t intimidated by Michigan State’s size or pedigree. The Spartans entered the game ranked third in the country in rebound margin, while Oakland sat all the way down at 305th.
On paper, this looked like a mismatch in the paint. On the floor, it was anything but.
Oakland’s zone defense gave Michigan State fits early, and the Spartans didn’t help themselves with sloppy ball-handling. Three turnovers in four possessions handed the Golden Grizzlies a 9-6 lead just minutes in. It was déjà vu for a Spartan squad that had coughed the ball up 15 times against Toledo earlier in the week - a game they won, but not without some warning signs.
Oakland, unlike Toledo, thrives on chaos. They’ve made a habit of playing MSU tough in these neutral-site matchups, and they smelled opportunity the moment the Spartans started handing them extra possessions.
Cold From Deep, Hot Under Pressure
Michigan State has been trending upward from beyond the arc lately, but the first half told a different story. The Spartans missed their first four threes, and Oakland took full advantage, stringing together a 7-0 run to stretch their lead to 12-6.
The Spartans’ leading scorer - fresh off a double-double in the opening ten minutes against Toledo - finally snapped the cold streak with MSU’s first triple of the day. But the momentum didn’t last long. Oakland answered with another forced turnover and bucket to push the lead to 16-9.
Kur Teng gave MSU a spark with a three-pointer following the team’s first forced turnover, trimming the deficit to two. But Coen Carr’s shooting struggles continued.
The freshman forward, who’s been generating late first-round buzz thanks to his explosive athleticism, couldn’t buy a bucket early. While Izzo has consistently praised Carr’s work ethic and shooting development, the results haven’t quite followed - and the first half against Oakland didn’t help that narrative.
Oakland Brings the Fight
By the midway mark of the first half, Oakland had clearly set the tone. Michigan State had already committed six turnovers and trailed 20-18. The Spartans looked out of rhythm, while the Golden Grizzlies looked like a team playing for something bigger - and in many ways, they were.
This game was Oakland’s Super Bowl. A win over Izzo and Michigan State would be a historic first, and they played like it. Michael Houge was the engine early, racking up 11 of the team’s first 20 points and giving MSU’s defense all kinds of trouble.
Despite being undersized, Oakland played with a physical edge. They were first to loose balls, aggressive on the glass, and sharp in their decision-making. They didn’t just hang around - they dictated terms.
Momentum Swings Late
With eight minutes left in the half, the Spartans had a golden opportunity to take the lead for the first time in over ten minutes. Kur Teng missed on the initial attempt, but after a couple of empty trips on both ends, he cleaned up his own miss with a put-back to give MSU a 22-20 edge.
That bucket sparked life into the Spartans. Freshman Jordan Scott followed with a three, and suddenly MSU was on an 11-2 run, grabbing a 25-20 lead. It looked like the tide had turned.
But Oakland wasn’t done. The Golden Grizzlies punched right back with a 9-2 run of their own, reclaiming the lead at 29-28. The back-and-forth continued, and with just over three minutes to go before the break, Oakland held a 32-30 advantage.
Michigan State’s big men struggled to assert themselves against Oakland’s post traps, which forced the Spartans to rely more heavily on perimeter production. That’s been a shaky proposition at times this season - and it’s something to monitor moving forward. If MSU’s frontcourt can’t consistently dominate, the pressure falls on Carr, Fears, and whoever emerges in that rotating two-guard spot to carry the offensive load.
Cooper Closes the Half With Authority
With 2:30 left, the game was tied for the sixth time at 34-34. That’s when Michigan State’s lob game - one of the best in the country - made its presence felt.
Jeremy Fears found Carson Cooper cutting down the lane, and Cooper threw down a thunderous alley-oop to give MSU a 36-34 lead. Oakland answered with two free throws to knot things up again, but Cooper wasn’t finished. He scored through contact on the next possession, converted the and-one, and sent the Spartans into halftime with a 39-36 lead.
Halftime Outlook
Michigan State heads into the locker room with a narrow lead, but this first half was anything but comfortable. Oakland’s zone defense, scrappy energy, and fearless play gave the Spartans all they could handle.
For MSU, the path forward is clear: clean up the turnovers, find consistency from deep, and get more from their bigs. The backcourt needs to assert itself, and Carr - who’s shown flashes of brilliance - has to turn the corner as a shooter.
Oakland isn’t going away, and if Michigan State wants to avoid a holiday upset, they’ll need to bring more discipline and sharper execution in the second half. The effort is there - now it’s about finishing the job.