EAST LANSING - Michigan State owned a double-digit lead in the second half of all four games so far this season.
Seizing on those advantages by putting teams away, however, has not been a strength.
The No. 21 Spartans (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) had a 13-point lead in the third quarter of the season opener against Utah State, then needed a touchdown in the final two minutes to pull out a 38-31 win. They were up 10 points to start the fourth quarter at Arizona State and lost 16-13. Michigan State had a 21-point fourth-quarter lead whittled to seven at Indiana before putting the game away with a late touchdown for a 35-21 win. It led 31-3 lead early in the fourth quarter against Central Michigan before…
