alent of Djokovic. Unfortunately for Murray, his Serbian rival is best at similar things and most adept on the same surface. There would be no split k

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Nick Ward had a fantastic game offensively and on the boards, scoring a season-high 24 points and matching his best performance with 10 rebounds in an attempt to make up for the loss of Mile Bridges in Michigan States 80-76 win over Oral Roberts on Saturday night.At the other end of the court, though, the freshman forward may have given up more points and rebounds than he had himself in the box score.When he got real tired, he couldnt guard anyone in the post, Spartans coach Tom Izzo said.The Spartans (5-4) played for the first time without Bridges, their leading scorer and rebounder, and missed him a lot. The standout freshman watched the game with a walking boot on his left foot, protecting a sprained ankle that will keep him out for at least a couple weeks.We can do this, said Ward, a reserve, who played a season-high 26 minutes. We have a bright future, but weve had a lot of injuries up front.The Golden Eagles (1-7) were very competitive in a game that included 13 lead changes and six ties. They led by as many as seven points in the first half and had some leads early in the second half.Kris Martin pulled them within two points with 20.8 seconds left with a four-point play, but couldnt get closer because Michigan State made two more free throws to seal the victory.You dont win championships in December, but that might be the best weve played, Oral Roberts guard Jalen Bradley said. We were OK against Baylor and Mississippi, too.BITS FROM BOX SCOREMichigan State freshman Cassius Winston, who came off the bench along with Ward, had a season-high 15 points and nine assists.I think Cassius Winston had his best game, Izzo said. Theres no other freshman that played very well.Eron Harris scored 14, but Izzo wasnt happy with him or any of his wings.Oral Roberts Emmanuel Nzekwesi had 21 points and 13 rebounds, Bradley scored 17, Martin had 16 points and Albert Owens added 15 points and eight rebounds. They helped their team bounce back from a 92-64 loss in suburban Detroit.Weve come a long way since Thursday night at Oakland, Golden Eagles coach Scott Sutton said. We were embarrassed.BIG PICTUREOral Roberts: The banged-up Golden Eagles, missing two starters due to injury, seem to be much better than their record indicates. When they get healthy, Sutton will have a talented and tough team to work with this season.Michigan State: Spartans coach Tom Izzo has wanted this team to get the ball inside more, and it has a good option inside with Ward without Bridges in the lineup. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward wants the ball in the post and he has skills to do something with it when teammates pass it to him.INJURY REPORTOral Roberts: Aaron Anderson, who hurt his knee in the third game, is close to returning. Hes probably a week away, Sutton said. Javan White, recovering from knee surgery, isnt expected back soon. Hes a ways away, Sutton said.Michigan State: Two seniors in the post, Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter, have been out all season because of knee injuries. Schilling might make it back at some point in the Big Ten season, but Carter likely wont be cleared to play for the Spartans after transferring from UNLV.UP NEXT:Oral Roberts: At Oklahoma on Wednesday, in its third road game in less than a week.Michigan State: Hosts Youngstown State on Tuesday, a game Izzo vowed him team would be ready for after challenging them during two or three practices on Sunday.If you think Im depressed, Im not, Izzo said. Im ticked off.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow AP College Football coverage at http://collegefootball.ap.org/ and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Ross Stripling Jersey . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. Fernando Valenzuela Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-a-j-pollock-jersey/ . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Corey Seager Dodgers Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Clayton Kershaw Jersey . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. It wasnt so long ago that Andy Murrays career seemed a textbook example of bad timing. But he has reversed that impression in a big way during this unpredictable spring and summer, leaving top-ranked Novak Djokovic with a lot to ponder as the US Open approaches.Murray and his backers could be forgiven for heaving a big sigh and saying, Its about time.The game of the 29-year-old Scot matured slowly, out of the sunlight in the long shadow cast by the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry -- and the major talent of Djokovic. Unfortunately for Murray, his Serbian rival is best at similar things and most adept on the same surface. There would be no split kingdoms.Because of all that, Murrays share of the Big Four pie had been limited before this summer to two Grand Slam titles and the 2012 singles gold medal in the London Olympics. He had written his name in the history books as the first guy to lose five Grand Slam finals at the same tournament, the Australian Open.True, Murray did have 11 Masters 1000 titles going into 2016, but it almost seemed like his more-accomplished peers threw him a bone. Chewing on it seemed to increase his hunger. After losing the French Open final to Djokovic, Murray went on a 22-match winning streak (the longest of his career), which included titles at Wimbledon and the successful defense of his Olympic gold medal.Murray took the high road after Rio, keeping his commitment to the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. Jet-lagged and hampered by a sore shoulder, Murray managed to reach the final before falling to Marin Cilic in Sundays final. Along the way, the No. 2 Scott knocked out Milos Raonic, who thought he had outfoxed everyone by skipping the Olympics.The current tally for Murray: seven finals in a row , going back to the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters.I think Im playing my best tennis just now, Murray told the press after the Cincinnati final..dddddddddddd Its not even close to anything else I had done before. Its been really good.When hes confident, he can be more dangerous than Djokovic when it comes to ripping off placements and returns. In the Wimbledon final against Raonic, the average rally was shorter during the points Murray served -- despite Raonics atomic serve and attacking skills. And although more than half of Raonics serves went unreturned up to the final, Murray sent back almost 75 percent in the championship match.Not only is Murray playing the best tennis of his career, his Big Four rivals might be at their worst in some time. Its called good timing. Murray must recognize that, unfamiliar as the concept may be.Murray cant snatch the No. 1 ranking from Djokovic no matter how things play out in New York City, but he can add credence to the theory that the Big Four has been whittled down to a Towering Two in 2016.After all, Federer is 34 and out for the year with a bum knee. Nadal showed his signature grit in Rio, but hes more likely to be running on fumes than breathing fire when the US Open begins. Plus, hes still coming back from a wrist injury -- one of the latest in a mounting string of breakdowns.Djokovic had everyone talking calendar-year Grand Slam at the end of June. Then he was upset during the first week at Wimbledon. He was fired up for Rio but flamed out in singles and doubles in the first round. He hasnt looked so vulnerable since the days when he was better known for his impersonation of fellow players than his emulation of Rod Laver.Cue Murray.Its obviously disappointing when you get to the final and not win, Murray said. But it was a very, very positive week considering everything. Mentally, Im in a good place just now. So Im looking forward to New York for sure. ' ' '