DETROIT — For a significant stretch of Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena, it looked like the Golden Grizzlies were about to pull off another signature upset in front of a stunned crowd of 15,789.
With an 11-3 run fueled by pure adrenaline and sharpshooting, Oakland silenced the green-and-white faithful to take a commanding 16-9 lead early in the first half.
The atmosphere was electric, defined by the annual holiday sweater tradition between Greg Kampe and Tom Izzo, but the real story was the way the Grizzlies refused to be intimidated by Michigan State’s top-10 ranking. While the Spartans eventually leaned on their depth to secure a 79-70 victory, Oakland proved it is a dangerous out for any team in the country when its shots are falling.
Defensive Grit and the Passing Lanes
Once the initial fireworks settled, the game became a battle of tactical discipline. Kampe’s strategy was built to neutralize the Spartans’ size by any means necessary, specifically by double-teaming Michigan State bigs like Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper the second the ball entered the post.
This defensive pressure forced the Spartans into uncomfortable positions and successfully disrupted the rhythm of their offensive engine, Jeremy Fears Jr. Entering the night as one of the nation’s premier facilitators, Fears was suffocated by the Grizzlies’ perimeter rotations. While he managed five assists, Oakland forced him into a 1-for-6 shooting night, keeping him well below his usual production and making every half-court possession a struggle for the MSU offense.
The Physical Toll in the Paint
While the defensive strategy worked for much of the first half, the sheer size and strength of the Michigan State frontcourt eventually became the deciding factor. As the game progressed, the Spartans’ length allowed them to dominate the glass, out-rebounding the Golden Grizzlies 42-26 overall.
Nowhere was this disparity more damaging than on the offensive glass, where Michigan State hauled in 15 offensive rebounds compared to just six for Oakland. These extra opportunities led to 15 second-chance points for the Spartans, providing a cushion that Oakland’s smaller frontcourt simply couldn’t deflate.
Offensively, the lack of a consistent rim protector for Oakland meant the Grizzlies struggled to deter drives once a lane opened up, allowing the Spartans to use their superior length to record 11 blocks and outscore Oakland 42-26 in the paint.
Individual Standouts and the Road Ahead
Despite the rebounding woes, the Grizzlies found life through individual ironman performances. Tuburu Naivalurua looked like a new player against the Big Ten giants, finishing with a team-high 18 points on efficient 6-for-11 shooting, including a perfect 2-for-2 from deep.
He was joined by Ziare Wells, a flamethrower from beyond the arc who converted all three of his 3-point attempts to finish with 17 points. Meanwhile, Brody Robinson displayed immense character as the floor general, playing all but 45 seconds of the game and tallying eight assists with only two turnovers.
Michael Houge also started the night strong, contributing 13 points and grabbing five rebounds to help sustain the early momentum. Isaac Garrett struggled offensively, yet he remained a defensive catalyst with five steals, proving the team’s motor never stopped running.
The final may go down in the loss column, but the nuances of the performance suggest Oakland is rounding into form at the right time.
Ultimately, the second-half aggression of MSU’s Coen Carr, who finished with 22 points, and the relentless motor of Jaxon Kohler, who grabbed 13 rebounds, were enough to stave off the upset. However, Oakland’s ability to outshoot a top-tier team from the perimeter (45.5% to 27.3%) is a weapon that will be incredibly difficult for any Horizon League opponent to stop in the coming weeks.