Michigan State Basketball: Takeaways and observations from Oakland victory

Michigan State Basketball hosted Oakland for their sixth game of the season as both teams have played each other for the past eight years and for 13 of the last 14 years.

Entering today’s game, Michigan State Basketball had never lost to Oakland going 12-0 against them. However, the Golden Grizzlies have taken the Spartans to overtime in 2015 and only lost to Michigan State by single digits three times. In today’s contest, the Spartans looked to have a decisive victory over Oakland before heading into Big Ten play.

Joshua Langford is beginning to regain his form from two years ago

Before he was injured in 2018, Langford was averaging 15 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a game. This season, he had a season-high of 10 points against Eastern Michigan, five assists against Western Michigan, and was two for three from beyond the arch against Notre Dame.

Langford started the game playing excellent defense on the perimeter. He made his first three-point attempts of the game. He like Hauser and Watts struggled early offensively against a stingy and frustrating Oakland defense. He missed three of his first four shot attempts but his tenacious defense kept him on the court in the first half.

In the second half, Langford would get going and he had a nice put-back layup on a missed Henry shot. He then would make a three-pointer from the wing to give the Spartans a nine-point lead. Langford would give and good head fake to make a long ranger two-point basket and then on the next offensive possession make a nice assist to give the Spartans a 69-57 lead.

Langford kept going to the basket on missed shots and converted on a three-point play when he got the rebound and made the basket in the paint and made the free throw to give Michigan State an 80-65 advantage. He ended the game with 13 points on five for ten shooting from the field. He also had five rebounds and four assists.