Duke vs Michigan State: No. 5 Spartans Stifle No. 2 Duke 79-73 in the Champions Classic as Jeremy Fears Jr. Scores 18 With 11 Assists
Michigan State never let Duke's offense breathe: 33.3 percent shooting, a first double-figure scorer with under seven minutes left, and a wire-to-wire statement win in Chicago to open the Champions Classic doubleheader.
No. 5 Michigan State stifled No. 2 Duke's offense in a 79-73 victory Tuesday night at the Champions Classic in Chicago, the opener of the doubleheader. Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 18 points and dished out 11 assists for the Spartans, who improved to 3-0, and Michigan State avenged a home loss to Duke from last December.
The defense was the story. Duke shot 33.3 percent from the field - 20-for-60, including 7-for-29 from three-point range - and did not have a double-figure scorer until John Blackwell's three-pointer with less than seven minutes to play. Blackwell finished with 17 points for Duke (2-1), Patrick Ngongba II added 11, and reserves Sebastian Wilkins and Caleb Foster had nine each. Cam Ward added 14 points off the bench and Jasiah Jervis posted 10 for Michigan State.
Michigan State led 24-14 in the first half and settled for a 34-25 halftime lead, then pushed the margin to as many as 14 early in the second half. Fears assisted on 10 of the Spartans' first 16 field goals, then turned a steal into a three-point play as the gap grew to 50-36.
Duke's late push made the final score honest but never changed the ending. The Blue Devils cut the deficit to 73-68 on Foster's two free throws with 2:03 left, but Jordan Scott answered with a layup and Fears made three of four free throws to give Michigan State a 78-68 lead. Scott was a factor in the lane all game, collecting nine rebounds and six blocked shots. Blackwell's three with 13 seconds remaining closed Duke's scoring.
