EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The horn went off too soon, and Michigan State hung on.Eron Harris had a season-high 31 points and the 13th-ranked Spartans held off Florida Gulf Coast 78-77 on Sunday night when a timekeeping error led to a disputed finish.With 1.6 seconds remaining, Florida Gulf Coasts Christian Terrell threw a long inbounds pass from underneath his own basket. But the clock incorrectly started when the pass was thrown, rather than when Antravious Simmons caught the ball by the foul line at the other end of the court.So as Simmons turned to try a game-winning shot, the buzzer sounded -- much too early. Simmons missed his attempt, but FGCU players looked confused and coach Joe Dooley sought an explanation.Officials went to a video review as players and fans waited to find out if the game was indeed over.Since a timing error occurred, we are able to utilize the replay monitor, referee Bo Boroski told a pool reporter. Using a stopwatch, it was determined the ball was caught and released in 1.3 seconds, meaning if the shot would have gone in, it would have counted. After the miss there was no time remaining in the game, therefore ending the game. By rule the possession cannot be replayed.And that was that.After the game, Dooley said he understood the ruling.Harris made all six of his 3-pointers and Miles Bridges added 13 points for the Spartans (2-2), who shot a season-best 51 percent from the floor. They hit 52.9 percent of their attempts from beyond the 3-point line, but struggled at the free throw line (57.6 percent).Its hard to be honest and mad and happy at the same time, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. We got to the free throw line 33 times. Twenty-one assists on 25 baskets was very, very good. We improved in some areas, but I thought we got outplayed. The biggest thing this program has stood for has been toughness, but I told our players they were the tougher team.Florida Gulf Coast (1-3) got 18 points apiece from Brandon Goodwin and Simmons, who added 12 rebounds. RaySean Scott Jr. added 14 off the bench.I thought it was a great college game. Great atmosphere. Im proud of the way our guys competed, Dooley said. Obviously disappointed with the ending, but we put ourselves in some spots that we shouldnt have. But thats what happens when you play a really good team, and Michigan States a really good team.The Eagles shot 46 percent overall and 47.1 percent from the foul line. They outrebounded Michigan State 41-29.They were tougher than I thought they were going to be, Harris said of Florida Gulf Coast. They werent trash-talkers or anything. They got out there and played hard.It was the second meeting between the schools. Michigan State won 97-58 in East Lansing on Nov. 13, 2009.BIG PICTUREFlorida Gulf Coast: The Eagles dropped to 1-8 against ranked opponents. The schools only win came during its improbable run in the 2013 NCAA tournament, when it beat No. 8 Georgetown in the second round.Michigan State: The Spartans kept their November home winning streak alive, but barely. They havent lost at home since David Robinson led Navy past Michigan State 91-90 in overtime on Nov. 29, 1986.POLL IMPLICATIONSIf it were up to Izzo, there wouldnt be any for his team. This will be one of the four or five best teams we play in the preseason, Izzo said. That team will play in the NCAA (Tournament). No question about it.BY THE NUMBERSGoodwin has been Florida Gulf Coasts leading scorer in all four games this season, while Simmons recorded his first double-double of the season. The Eagles outscored Michigan State in the paint (40-22) and on second-chance points (24-9).UP NEXTFlorida Gulf Coast is home Wednesday against Binghamton, the start of a seven-game stretch that includes six at home.Michigan State, which has played in Hawaii and New York this month, travels to the Bahamas for the final three games of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament beginning Wednesday, when the Spartans take on St. Johns. They finish the month with a Nov. 29 game at Duke.Nolan Ryan Angels Jersey . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Andrelton Simmons Angels Jersey . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/cj-wilson-angels-jersey/ . JOHNS, N. Trevor Cahill Angels Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Jonathan Lucroy Jersey . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup.CLEVELAND -- Another week, another stanza in the Ballad of Dak Prescott. Sundays bit of Dallas Cowboys business-handling saw the fourth-round rookie quarterback throw three touchdown passes in a 35-10 victory over the winless Browns for his seventh straight win. Prescott was a sweat-free 21-for-27, and the stanza spins into the now-familiar refrain: The Cowboys cant possibly?go back to Tony Romo, even once hes ready to take the job back from the kid.Just from watching the games, sure. Just from looking at the standings, which have the 7-1 Cowboys a game and a half ahead of the entire NFC, absolutely. A reasonable person can look at it and say theres no way they mess with this by changing quarterbacks in the middle of it.But when you talk to the people who are going to make this decision, you learn two things: First, yes they very well might. Second, were all missing the point.Theres no time bomb here -- no looming controversy ready to take down this Cowboys season. Charlie Brown may not make this field goal, but hes not falling on his back because Lucy yanked the ball away at the last minute this time. Ol Chucks got this one on a tee.Weve got a great luxury, a wonderful problem to have, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. Weve got some real talent at the quarterback position. I think Tony Romo is one of the best quarterbacks to play this game, and I get very excited when I look at Dak and his future. I just dont have a problem with this situation.And thats the point were all missing. The Cowboys arent worried about what will happen to their team, or to this unexpectedly brilliant season, if they let Prescott keep the job. And theyre not worried about what will happen if they give it back to Romo. The way their offensive line is playing, the way rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott is gobbling up yards, the way their defense is overachieving ... it feels crazy to say this about this franchise, but the Cowboys right now may be drama-proof.Theres nothing fragile here, Jones said. This locker room is so fundamentally square on the ground with their feet. When I talk to players, when I talk to coaches, I dont walk on eggshells at all when it comes to Romo or Dak.What will happen? I honestly dont think they know yet. The Cowboys have maintained for weeks that they dont want to answer that question yet because they dont have to. Romo is still on the mend from the preseason back injury that elevated Prescott to his starting role, and Prescott hasnt lost since Week 1. Jones deciding now whos going to be his quarterback in December -- and maybe January -- would be like Jones deciding which sports car to drive back to his mansion after his yacht docks. Either way, its going to be hard to mess up the day hes having.But you can tell that the Cowboys arent set either way, and that giving Romo the job back remains a possibility. A week ago, after the victory over the Eagles, Jones made it clear that Romo wouldnt be active for this game Sunday in Cleveland. Sunday night, asked about next weeks game in Pittsburgh, he hedged.Unlike last week, I wont speculate, he said.Romo will do more work in practice than he did last week, and a few possibilitties remain open.ddddddddddddHe could remain inactive for the Steelers game. He could be active as the backup. He could be the starter. The latter possibility seems the most far-fetched, given how little practice time Romo has had and how well Prescott has played, but its still not completely out of the question.As for Prescott, Jones kept talking about the future, and about how great all of this has been for Prescotts development.The thing Im most happy about is, I cant believe Daks getting these reps, Jones said. To see a young guy like him get eight full games, you just dont get to do that in the NFL. Tony had to wait four years to get that kind of experience.Does that portend a return to the bench for the dazzling young rookie? It could. The idea that Romo -- or pretty much any other quarterback in the world -- couldnt have completed those three touchdown passes Sunday to three wide-open receivers while under no pressure at all -- is crazy. Prescott deserves a ton of credit for the way he has handled his situation -- far better than any of the veteran backups who failed the Cowboys in 2015, when Dallas was 1-11 without Romo. But the idea that going back to Romo would be some kind of a downgrade or rattle the locker room doesnt hold water. Not when the rest of the team is performing the way it is around Prescott.So whichever way this goes, the Cowboys are in a good spot. People in the building say theyre confident that Romos relationships with Jones and coach Jason Garrett are strong enough that hell handle the situation to the teams benefit, regardless of the outcome. Prescott is as level-headed a young player as the league has, and he has said multiple times that hed step aside when Romo was ready to come back. This may be an issue of great worry and concern among those who talk about the Cowboys -- for a living or for fun. But the Cowboys themselves arent sweating it.Me and Tony have a great relationship, Prescott said. I dont think this team or anybody worries about that.We have all the confidence in the world, Elliott said, after strafing the Browns for 92 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Weve had so much success because of the chemistry we have and how much we care about one another.That hasnt gone unnoticed by the higher-ups, either.I think that part of football is wonderful, Jones said. When you have it, it can be a once-in-a-lifetime thing to get players playing above where theyre drafted, so to speak. Chemistry can do that. Its contagious, our fans are into it, and its exciting to see that.So why would the Cowboys mess with that by making a change at quarterback? Because they believe they have the kind of team that can absorb such a change and keep rolling. These Cowboys arent going to win all of the rest of their games, and they may not end up winning the Super Bowl. But if they get thrown off course, its not going to be because they sat a rookie quarterback and put Tony Romo back in. There are a couple dozen teams, at least, that would gladly trade for a problem like that. ' ' '