EAST LANSING -- Michigan State could explain away a 4-4 start to the season with a litany of reasons: a young team, extensive travel, injuries and contests against some of the toughest opponents in college basketball.

Yet when Michigan State submits its resume to the NCAA Tournament committee, Sunday's 83-71 loss to Northeastern will come with far fewer caveats, and will stand out as far and away the biggest black mark of this non-conference season.

The Spartans (7-5) saw a three-game win streak end against a 5-5 mid-major opponent on a subdued Sunday evening at Breslin Center, in one of the more surprising -- and potentially costly -- losses of Tom Izzo's tenure.

Michigan State was coming off of a week off from games due to finals, well-rested for the first time since the beginning of the season.

Yet after a late non-conference slate that had seen a few scares, notably against Oral Roberts and Tennessee Tech, the Spartans ran into a team that hung around and then hit shots down the stretch to pull the upset.

The Huskies made 11 3-pointers, including several key ones down the stretch, while Michigan State's offense looked out of sorts.

Northeastern also featured three players 6-foot-10 or taller and won the rebounding battle against a team missing three of its best frontcourt players, most notably freshman Miles Bridges.

After trailing for more than 23 consecutive minutes starting less than two minutes into the game, Michigan State finally went on an extended run early in the second half.

A 17-4 streak put the Spartans ahead by six points, as Cassius Winston and Eron Harris scored the final nine points of it, and seemed to have Michigan State surging toward a win.

Northeastern was undeterred, though.

The Huskies came back and took the lead on a 3-pointer with 8:51 to play. Michigan State tied the game twice more, the second time at the 7:48 mark in the second half.

But from there, Michigan State went 1 for 6 from the floor, without a go-to scorer to lead the team down the stretch. Northeastern hit a pair of critical 3-pointers, one with 5:55 left to put the Huskies up by five and one with 2:47 left to go up eight that proved the dagger.

That bucket was part of a nine-point Northeastern run. Michigan State was held scoreless for 3:30 during the stretch.

Winston led Michigan State with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and was at most times the team's only offensive catalyst. Nick Ward had 15 points and seven rebounds, while Harris had 11 points.

Michigan State has one remaining non-conference game, on Wednesday against Oakland, before Big Ten play starts at Minnesota on Dec. 27.

GAME NOTES

• Spartans guard Matt McQuaid returned after missing one game with a head injury. He came off the bench as Joshua Langford continued to start.

• Spartans coach Tom Izzo was assessed a technical foul early in the second half, when he stomped on the floor following a foul called on Ward. The foul was Ward's second in a span of eight seconds.

• Bridges continued to wear a boot on his foot on the bench, which he has since shortly after the Duke game on Nov. 29. Izzo said on his pregame radio show that he will be reevaluated after Christmas but there is no set date for his return.

• Former Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves was seen in the stands, just less than two weeks after sexual assault charges were dropped against him in a case in Flint.