Michigan State Basketball Holds Off Oral Roberts At Home

Dec 3, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Eron Harris (14) dribbles the ball against Oral Roberts Golden Eagles guard Aaron Young (0) during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Spartans win 80-76. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Eron Harris (14) dribbles the ball against Oral Roberts Golden Eagles guard Aaron Young (0) during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Spartans win 80-76. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Michigan State Spartans escaped their home floor with a win on Saturday, holding off the Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts, 80-76.

Dec 3, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Eron Harris (14) dribbles the ball against Oral Roberts Golden Eagles guard Aaron Young (0) during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Spartans win 80-76. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Eron Harris (14) dribbles the ball against Oral Roberts Golden Eagles guard Aaron Young (0) during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Spartans win 80-76. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

It was too close for comfort for the Michigan State Spartans (5-4) on Saturday, as they only just managed to keep the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (2-7) from pulling off the upset in East Lansing.

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It took the Spartans four minutes to get on the board as the Golden Eagles jumped out to a quick lead. A three-pointer by Josh Langford put Michigan State ahead for the first time, 12-10, with 11:49 left in the first half, but Oral Roberts took the lead back on the next possession on a Jalen Bradley three-pointer. The Golden Eagles went through a four-minute scoreless spell midway through the half as the Spartans went on a 7-0 run to take the lead, but Oral Roberts hung around and took the lead back again before a Cassius Winston basket in the final seconds put the Spartans ahead at halftime, 34-33.

The game continued to go back and forth in the second half, the lead continuing to change hands. An 8-0 run gave the Spartans their largest lead of the game, 61-56, with 8:28 left in the game, which they held onto and extended to 73-66 with 2:03 left.

The Golden Eagles would not go away, drawing back within two, 78-76, with 20 seconds left after Kris Martin converted a four-point play, but a pair of free throws by Winston put the game away for the Spartans, who held on to win 80-76.