Michigan State might have to live with some of these nail-biters.
The Spartans are already low on numbers with just 10 scholarship players. And when two players are missing from the rotation – forward Malik Hall and guard Jaden Akins were each out for a third straight game with foot injuries – against a hometown favorite that has been spending the week putting a scare in some of the nation’s top programs, it can lead to some nervous moments.
That was exactly the case on Sunday night at the PK85 Invitational as No. 12 Michigan State nearly let a 12-point lead in the final minutes slip away, instead getting one final defensive stop as time expired to hang on for a 78-77 victory over Portland at the Chiles Center.