Photo: David Banks ~ USA TODAY SPORTS
EAST LANSING, MI, Nov. 14, 2023 ~ The No.9 Duke Blue Devils defeated the No. 18 Michigan State Spartans 74-65 at the United Center in Chicago for the first game of this year’s State Farm Champions Classic.
The State Farm Champions Classic is a yearly season-opening college basketball showcase event between powerhouse programs Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan State. This year the Spartans opened up the event against Duke as Kansas and Kentucky took the court for the following matchup.
PODCAST:
Nov. 13, 2023 ~ Tom Izzo, Michigan State men’s head basketball coach, talks with Guy, Lloyd, Jamie, and Steve Courtney about the Spartans‘ upcoming matchup with the Duke Blue Devils in the State Farms Champions Classic.
(CONTINUED) Both teams came out slow. Turnovers were the catalyst for the slow offensive performance in the first half from both teams as Michigan State had 9 and Duke had 10. Michigan State shot only 29% from the field in the first half which led them to trail by 11 going into the half.
Michigan State’s Tyson Walker carried the load for the Spartans with 18 points in the second half. Walker was the game’s leading scorer with 22 on the night. Walker wasn’t the only player the Spartans had going for them, as Malik Hall finished the game with 18 points shooting 5/6 from the field in the second half.
PHOTOS:
Nov. 14, 2023 ~ Duke Blue Devils center Kyle Filipowski defends Michigan State Spartans guard A.J. Hoggard during the second half at the United Center in Chicago. Duke went on to defeat the Spartans 74-65. Photo: David Banks ~ USA TODAY SPORTS
(CONTINUED) Duke didn’t slow down though as the freshman Caleb Foster was the leading scorer for the Blue Devils with 18. Duke also had key contributions from Kyle Filipowski who had 15 points, alongside Tyreese Proctor and Mark Mitchell who each had 13 on the night.
The Spartans are 1-2 for the first time since 2016 as Duke improves to 15-4 all time over Michigan State. The Spartans look to turn things around against Butler on Friday Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Coverage starts at 5:30 p.m. on 760 WJR.
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