Coen Carr's offensive explosion ignites Michigan State's second-half surge, securing a hard-fought 79-70 victory over a resilient Oakland squad.
After a first half that saw Michigan State and Oakland go toe-to-toe for 20 minutes, the Spartans walked into the locker room holding a slim three-point lead — as earned as ever.
Neither team gave an inch early, and it was clear from the opening tip that Oakland wasn’t interested in playing the role of underdog.
Second-Half Spark Changes the Tone
The second half kicked off with both teams ready to go all out for a victory, but it didn’t take long for Michigan State to flip the script.
Coen Carr opened the scoring with a rainbow three. Carr’s shooting struggles have been apparent so far this season, but sometimes all it takes is seeing one shot swish through the net for confidence to follow.
Kur Teng followed by knocking down a three of his own on the next possession, pushing the Spartans’ lead to nine points — their largest of the game at that point — and capping off a 9–0 Michigan State run. On the defensive end, Carson Cooper added to the momentum with a massive block that sent the ball into the stands.
It was a noticeably different Spartan team coming out of halftime.
Adjustments Paying Off
Oakland answered with an incredible last-second three as the shot clock expired, but Michigan State quickly responded. Oakland’s second turnover of the half gave MSU another opportunity, and Jaxon Kohler — the “Kohler Bear” — drove straight down the lane for an easy layup to extend the lead to 51–41.
The Spartans were finally starting to look like the team many expected to see from the opening tip.
After a strong halftime adjustment, Michigan State began to find gaps in Oakland’s zone defense, picking it apart possession by possession. On the other end, MSU’s defense looked bigger, stronger, and more physical.
It took some time, but as basketball always reminds us, stamina matters. That’s why games are played for 40 minutes — not 20.
Bench Play and Depth on Display
As the Spartans settled in, they began to dominate the areas they were expected to all game. They forced tough Oakland possessions while remaining composed offensively, attacking inside to showcase their size and skill in the post.
Once Michigan State built and maintained a double-digit lead, the bench checked in. With just over 13 minutes remaining, MSU had already totaled 22 bench points — compared to zero from Oakland.
Izzo used 11 players in the first half alone, a clear statement of the depth on this roster and the trust he has throughout the lineup.
However, as much as Izzo may trust his bench, Oakland proved why they wouldn’t go away quietly. Against the second unit, the Golden Grizzlies chipped the lead back down to single digits at 55–47.
Carr Takes Over
Coen Carr continued his standout second half, reaching 11 points on the day with a beautiful move in the paint — crossing up a defender and finishing with a reverse layup while drawing the foul. He converted the free throw to push the lead back to 11.
Oakland responded with a three of their own, but once again it was Carr answering the call. Another bucket from Carr pushed Michigan State back up by double digits.
Still, Oakland refused to fade.
The Golden Grizzlies clawed back to within eight at 62–54, forced a turnover, and earned a trip to the free-throw line — cutting the game to a two-possession margin. Every time MSU found a little momentum, a bad possession or turnover allowed Oakland to stay right there.
A Game That Wouldn’t End
With just over six minutes remaining, Michigan State clung to a 66–58 lead. Oakland continued doing whatever it could to stay within striking distance, drawing another foul down low and knocking down both free throws to make it a six-point game — a margin that would define much of the second half.
The teams traded baskets again, and with five minutes remaining the Spartans led 68–62. After a missed MSU opportunity, Oakland had a chance to cut it to four, but a cross-court pass sailed away for a turnover.
Carr continued to clean up misses, controlling the glass and finishing strong. His putback pushed Michigan State’s lead to nine with under three minutes to play, seemingly ready to swing momentum for good.
But Oakland had one more push.
The Golden Grizzlies rose from the dead with a deep NBA-range three — an Undertaker-esque moment — cutting the lead back to six yet again.
Closing Time
As the clock dipped under two minutes, Michigan State held a 74–65 advantage. Oakland forced a late-clock three that missed, finally coming up empty on a possession they’d converted all night.
Kohler made them pay, getting to the line and pushing the lead back to double digits.
From there, Michigan State did what good teams do — closed.
Carr’s Career Night Seals It
Coen Carr’s second half deserves its own spotlight. After a quiet first half, Carr found his rhythm and never looked back.
Carr poured in a career-high 23 points, adding seven rebounds while scoring in every way imaginable — shooting, putbacks, attacking the rim, and knocking down free throws. It was a breakout performance that flipped the game.
Michigan State pulled out a tough, gritty 79–70 victory over Oakland, extending Izzo’s dominance over Greg Kampe. The win marks the 24th straight victory for the Spartans over the Golden Grizzlies.
Oakland deserves credit, however. The Golden Grizzlies became just the second team this season to score 70 or more points against Michigan State and arguably won the first half. Ultimately, though, MSU’s toughness and resilience proved too much.
Michigan State improves to 11–1 (2–0 Big Ten) and will return to action Monday, December 29, against Cornell at 7 p.m. EST.
The Spartans head into Christmas break with confidence — and with the grind of Big Ten play looming over the final three months of the season.