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EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State used to be one of the best at the end of games, making plays on both sides of the ball and special teams to win in the closing moments.The Spartans won a lot of games that way, including 36 the previous three seasons.What we have been able to do really in the last number of years is and its exactly what I told our football team, `Weve won those fourth quarters. Weve won the games at the end of the game. Weve closed games out, Dantonio said Tuesday. Thats what we have to return to.Dantonio, his staff and their players have to figure it out fast or else a team that started the season ranked No. 12 could be the first Michigan State squad to not earn a bowl invitation since 2006 when John L. Smiths last team went 4-8 with a pair of four-game skids. Smith was fired and Dantonio was hired, coming back to the school where he was one of Nick Sabans assistants.The Spartans (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) are losing these days because problems in the fourth quarter. That has triggered a skid that matches the total number of setbacks the program had the previous three years when it ended seasons at the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl and in the College Football Playoff. They have lost five straight for the first time since opening the 1991 season 0-5 and are one loss away from their longest skid since starting 0-7 in 1982.Michigan States misery is not expected to win anytime soon: Rival and second-ranked Michigan (7-0, 4-0) is favored to win by more than three touchdowns at Spartan Stadium on Saturday.Dantonio, though, is sounding confident about his teams chances after beating the Wolverines in seven of the last eight meetings.Can we win? Yeah, we can win, he told reporters at his news conference. I firmly believe that. I know none of you do, but thats why Im coaching.Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh knows he has to be ready for anything against a gambling coach, who has found ways to win ranging from returning a punters fumble on the last play last year at Michigan Stadium to trick plays to even a Hail Mary.Hes one of the best, Harbaugh said. Ive known him for years. You have to make your preparations accordingly.If Michigan State doesnt fare better in the fourth, its difficult to envision a win against anyone, especially the surging Wolverines or No. 6 Ohio State next month at home.The Spartans have not come back to win any of the three games in which they trailed after the third quarter. With a lead after three quarters, theyre just 2-2.And, problems in the final quarter have been there right from the start.Michigan State didnt outscore Furman in a lackluster, season-opening 28-13 victory. In their biggest win of the year against Notre Dame, the Spartans were outscored 14-0 in the fourth but held on for an eight-point victory. A scoreless fourth seemed to be a merciful end to a 30-6 loss to Wisconsin. Indiana outscored Michigan State 14-7 to close out regulation, forcing overtime and leading to a 24-21 win. BYU turned a close game into 31-14 victory by outscoring the home team 21-7 in the final quarter.Northwestern outscored Michigan State 14-9 to close out a 54-40 win. And perhaps in the most embarrassing loss this season, Maryland blanked Michigan State 14-0 last week to win 28-17.Its just as simple as not getting locked in the entire game, getting lazy, or whatever you want to call it, but thats not Spartan football, linebacker Riley Bullough said. Were doing everything we can to get back to our roots and what got us to the point that we have been in previous years.---Online: AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage Air Force 1 Alte 2020 . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. Air Force 1 Alte Graphic . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/scontate-air-force-1-alte-bianche.html .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Air Force 1 n7 . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Air Force 1 Shell . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. NEW YORK -- Philipp Grubauer will replace injured goaltender Frederik Andersen and Anze Kopitar will serve as captain for Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey.Andersen suffered an upper-body injury playing for Denmark in Olympic qualifying over the weekend. The Maple Leafs say he will be sidelined for three to four weeks.With Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss of the New York Islanders now competing to start for Europe, Grubauer becomes the third goaaltender.dddddddddddd The Washington Capitals backup put up a 0.67 goals-against average and .970 save percentage as Germany qualified for the 2018 Olympics.Kopitar, captain of the Los Angeles Kings, will wear the C for the team that includes players from several European countries.The World Cup begins Sept. 17 in Toronto. ' ' '