EAST LANSING - Playing at home for the first time in a month, Michigan State closed nonconference play the way it began - with a win.
The No. 21 Spartans scored 31 straight points and then had to hold off a late push to beat Central Michigan 31-20 on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing.
After splitting a pair of road games sandwiched around a bye week, Michigan State (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) overcame a sluggish start offensively in its return to Spartan Stadium and built a lead the Chippewas (1-4, 0-1 MAC) whittled down with 17 fourth-quarter points but couldn't overcome.