Freshman forward Nick Ward powered for 24 points and 10 rebounds off the bench and Michigan State held off Oral Roberts 80-76 Saturday afternoon at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.

Point guard Cassius Winston supplied 15 points and nine assists for the Spartans (5-4), whose reserves outscored the Golden Eagles' bench 56-0. Senior guard Eron Harris added 12 points.

The Spartans were playing without their leading scorer and rebounder, freshman forward Miles Bridges, who suffered a left ankle injury in Tuesday's 78-69 loss at No. 4 Duke. Bridges is averaging 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds a game.

Freshman forward Emmanuel Nzekwesi led the Golden Eagles (1-7), who were coming off a 28-point loss to Oakland on Thursday, with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Senior guard Jalen Bradley contributed 17 points, sophomore guard Kris Martin added 16 and junior center Albert Owens chipped in 15.

Nzekwesi hit a 3-pointer with 10:51 left to give Oral Roberts a 56-53 lead. The Spartans scored the next eight points, including Harris' go-ahead layup.

Alvin Ellis' triple with 7:47 remaining nudged the Spartans' advantage to 64-58. Nzekwesi's layup with 3:34 left cut it to 70-66.

Ward then scored in the lane and Kyle Ahrens made two free throws to stretch the advantage to eight.

The Golden Eagles wouldn't go away, as they pulled within three with a 5-0 spurt. The Spartans got the lead back to a six-point edge before Martin's four-point play with 20 seconds left cut it to 78-76.

Winston canned two free throws to clinch Michigan State's win.

Winston had 11 points and four assists by halftime as Michigan State led 34-33. Ward provided the power inside with eight points, four rebounds and three assists. Nzekwesi allowed Oral Roberts to keep pace with 13 points and nine rebounds in the first half.