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Michigan State Basketball Holds Off Oral Roberts At Home

By Colton Wesley

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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Dec 3, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Kyle Ahrens (0) guard Cassius Winston (5) and forward Nick Ward (44) talk in a huddle during the second half against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles 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 Kyle Ahrens (0) guard Cassius Winston (5) and forward Nick Ward (44) talk in a huddle during the second half against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Spartans win 80-76. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Winston, Ward star off bench, ORU wins on glass

Without Miles Bridges, who is out for the next couple of weeks with an ankle injury, the Spartans depended heavily on their other freshmen on Saturday, led by Cassius Winston, who scored 15 points and had nine assists off the bench. Big man Nick Ward had his first career double-double, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a season-high 26 minutes off the bench. Josh Langford scored a career-high nine points in reserve as well.

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Despite the numbers, head coach Tom Izzo was only half-impressed with his freshmen, commenting that Winston had a good game while Ward played well on offense.

Eron Harris was the only Michigan State starter to score in double digits with 12 points. Kyle Ahrens, getting his first start for Bridges, scored six points, all on free throws while picking up four rebounds. Alvin Ellis III added eight points in reserve as the Spartans scored 56 of their 80 points off the bench.

The Golden Eagles, on the other hand, relied heavily on their starters, getting none of their points from their bench. Four of Oral Roberts’ starters scored in double-digits, led by Emmanuel Nzekwesi, who had a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Jalen Bradley scored 17 and led the Golden Eagles with six assists.

Oral Roberts out-rebounded the Spartans, 38-37, and took 11 more shots than the Spartans, but only shot 38.5% (25/65) from the floor. The Golden Eagles made 8/18 three-pointers (44.4%). Both teams turned the ball over ten times. The Spartans had a better night at the free throw line, converting 25 of 34 attempts (73.5%). Oral Roberts made 18 of 21 from the line (85.7%).

Score FG 3P FT OR/DR AST STL BLK TO PF
ORU 76 25/65 8/18 18/21 14/24 13 4 4 10 25
MSU 80 24/54 7/20 25/34 11/26 19 4 8 10 19

Full box score from ESPN

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Michigan State will host Youngstown State on ESPNU on Tuesday at 7:00.

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