No. 9 Michigan State beats Oakland 79-70 as Tom Izzo and Greg Kampe don custom holiday sweaters

DETROIT (AP) — Coen Carr scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half to help No. 9 Michigan State hold off Oakland for a 79-80 win on Saturday.

The Spartans (11-1) have won three straight since losing their only game this season, a six-point setback to No. 3 Duke.

The Golden Grizzlies (6-7) led for much of the first half and were ahead by as much as seven points before trailing the entire second half.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Oakland coach Greg Kampe, who are friends, coordinated to wear custom-made holiday sweaters. Izzo's had “naughty list" on it with his likeness arguing with a referee. Kampe's had “nice list” on it with him bumping fists with an official.

The Spartans improved to 24-0 in the all-time series against the school in suburban Detroit, but didn't approach their average margin of victory that is nearly 20 points.

Oakland’s Tuburu Naivalurua had 18 points, Ziare Wells had 17 points while Brody Robinson and Michael Houge scored 13 apiece.

Michigan State's Jaxon Kohler had 13 points and 13 rebounds for his seventh double double this season and Kur Teng scored 10 points.

The Spartans struggled beyond the arc as they have at times this year, making just 6 of 22 3-pointers. They controlled the boards as they often do, outrebounding Oakland 42-26. That helped them have a 10-point advantage on second-chance points in what proved to be the difference in the game.

Oakland: At Wright State on Dec. 29.

Michigan State: Host Cornell on Dec. 29.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Oakland guard Brett White II, left, shoots against Michigan State guard Kur Teng during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr., right, is defended by Oakland guard Ziare Wells during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, left, speaks with guard Trey Fort during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oakland, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Oakland guard Brody Robinson, left, shoots against Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Oakland head coach Greg Kampe, right, gestures near Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces on Saturday stopped a vessel off the coast of Venezuela for the second time in less than two weeks as President Donald Trump continues to ramp up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The move, which was confirmed by two U.S. officials familiar with matter, comes days after Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of the South American country and follows the Dec. 10 seizure by American forces of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast.

The officials were not authorized to discuss publicly the ongoing military operation and spoke on condition of anonymity. The action was described as a “consented boarding,” with the tanker stopping voluntarily and allowing U.S. forces to board it, one official said.

The Pentagon and White House officials did not immediately respond to a requests for comment.

Trump earlier this month announced that Coast Guard had seized an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea and vowed that the U.S. would carry out a blockade of Venezuela. It all comes as Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric toward Maduro and warned that the longtime Venezuelan leader’s days in power are numbered.

Trump this week demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a “blockade” against oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country that face American sanctions.

Trump cited the lost U.S. investments in Venezuela when asked about his newest tactic in a pressure campaign against Maduro, suggesting the Republican administration’s moves are at least somewhat motivated by disputes over oil investments, along with accusations of drug trafficking. Some sanctioned tankers already are diverting away from Venezuela.

"We’re not going to be letting anybody going through who shouldn’t be going through,” Trump told reporters. “You remember they took all of our energy rights. They took all of our oil not that long ago. And we want it back. They took it — they illegally took it.”

President Donald Trump walks to speak with reporters while departing the White House as chief of staff Susie Wiles, right, looks on, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)