It has become synonymous with the holiday season, Oakland and Michigan State. This year, the series returned to Little Caesars Arena in Downtown Detroit.
In front of over 15,000 strong that included Detroit Tigers two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, the ninth-ranked Spartans came away with a 79-70 win over the Golden Grizzlies.
The game featured both head coaches, Greg Kampe and Tom Izzo, wearing their annual Christmas Sweaters. This year, they featured the coaches with referees on the front. Izzo’s was labeled “naughty” and Kampe had his labeled “nice”. Izzo joked postgame that Kampe deserved the naughty title after how he acted during the game.
The two longest tenured coaches in the country spoke about their relationship postgame.
“The relationship I have with him is the most special relationship I have had in my professional career,” Kampe said. “He has personally done an event for me that has raised over $500,000 the last two years. Without him I am not here, and we are not here as a program.”
“In about five hours he is going to call me and tell me what we need to do to win, and I’m really looking forward to that conversation,” said Kampe of Izzo.
Izzo was complimentary of Oakland, saying he likes this edition of the Golden Grizzlies better than some others in the past because they are “smashmouth tough.”
“As long as I’m around we are going to play you,” Izzo also said to Kampe in front of media.
Oakland jumped out to a 16-9 advantage to start the game. From then on, a back-and-forth first half ensued. The lead changed hands six times, and Michigan State held a 39-36 lead at the half.
It was the Spartans who took control early in the second half, going up 55-43. Oakland was able to trim the lead down to six a few times, but never any closer. The nine-point difference in the final score was in between the 6 and twelve point spread the score stayed within the entire second half.
Buru Naivalurua led the attack for Oakland. He scored a team-high 18 points, making 2-of-2 from three. He also grabbed five rebounds. Naivalurua may be able to springboard this performance into the heavy conference slate that awaits.
Ziare Wells went 3-of-3 from three and scored 17 points. He was able to get to his left hand and get to the rim multiple times against one of the best defenses in the country.
Brody Robinson scored 13 points and dished out eight assists. He also made three threes.
The fourth Golden Grizzly in double figures was Michael Houge, who was a force to start the game. He scored 11 points in the first ten minutes of action to pace the early Golden Grizzlies attack.
Oakland ends the non-conference slate with a 4-7 record in those games. The NET ranks the Golden Grizzlies non-conference schedule as the hardest in the country. Add Oakland’s 2-0 conference record to the fold, and the season pre-Christmas break can be labeled as a success.
The games pick back up on December 29th, with a trip to Wright State. ESPN+ will carry the 7pm Eastern Time tip.
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