A defensive statement in Chicago
Duke arrived in Chicago ranked second in the country. They left with their first loss of the season and a shooting chart that will not make for comfortable viewing. Michigan State, ranked fifth, won the opening game of the Champions Classic doubleheader 79-73 on Tuesday night, and the margin was built almost entirely on defense.
The Blue Devils made only 33.3% of their shots from the field. From beyond the arc it was worse: 7 of 29, or 24.1%. John Blackwell did what he could with 17 points, but nobody around him found the range for long. Michigan State stretched the lead to 14 early in the second half and never let Duke close enough to apply real pressure.
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Fears pulls the strings
Jeremy Fears Jr. was the best player on the floor. The Spartans’ point guard finished with 18 points and 11 assists, a double-double that steered an offense which did not need to be spectacular given how little Duke were scoring. Cam Ward gave the Spartans 14 points off the bench and Jasiah Jervis chipped in 10.
There was a score to settle as well. Duke had beaten Michigan State in East Lansing last December, and this result squares that ledger at a neutral venue that tends to shape early-season perceptions. Michigan State move to 3-0. Duke drop to 2-1.
Kansas own the nightcap
The second half of the doubleheader was far less competitive. Kansas beat Kentucky 89-69 behind a career-high 30 points from Tre White, with Tyran Stokes adding 23 points and 10 rebounds. The Jayhawks pushed their lead past 20 with 15 minutes to play and are now 7-2 against the Wildcats dating back to 2015-16. Kentucky shot just 4 of 21 from three, and Milan Momcilovic was held to five points.
Elsewhere, top-ranked Florida won 81-72 at Florida State, while Texas Tech beat No. 3 Illinois 84-78 in Lubbock. That makes two of the top three in the poll beaten on the same night, with Florida the only one to come through.
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