The Library Media — Sports · Men’s College Basketball
Michigan State Goes Wire-to-Wire Against No. 2 Duke, Fears Conducts Champions Classic Win
By Piper Rampage
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Michigan State didn’t chase Duke on Tuesday night. The Spartans made sure they never had to.
No. 5 Michigan State controlled the game from the opening stretch, led wire to wire and defeated No. 2 Duke 79-73 in the Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The victory moves Tom Izzo’s Spartans to 3-0 and hands John Scheyer’s Blue Devils their first loss against two wins, dropping them to 2-1.
The engine was redshirt junior guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who delivered 18 points and 11 assists for a double-double. He also collected seven rebounds, according to NBC Sports. Fears directed an offense that got contributions throughout the rotation, with Michigan State reporting that 10 different players scored.
That balance mattered against a Duke team that entered the matchup ranked second nationally.
Cam Ward supplied 14 points off the bench, while Jasiah Jervis added 10, according to Field Level Media. John Blackwell led Duke with 17 points.
Michigan State established its advantage early. The Spartans led 24-14 during the first half and carried a 34-25 advantage into halftime, according to Field Level Media. Duke never managed to turn the game around, as Michigan State maintained its lead through the final buzzer.
The defensive numbers help explain why.
NBC Sports reported that Michigan State held Duke to 33.3% shooting, with the Blue Devils making just 20 of 60 attempts. The Spartans also forced 13 turnovers, disrupting an opponent that came into the night ranked among the country’s elite.
This was not simply a case of Michigan State getting hot offensively. The Spartans combined Fears’ playmaking, contributions from multiple scorers and defensive pressure to keep Duke from finding a sustained answer.
The historical significance adds another layer.
According to NBC Sports, Tuesday marked Michigan State’s first victory over Duke since the Spartans won 75-69 on Dec. 1, 2020. Michigan State also improved its Champions Classic record to 7-9.
Those numbers give the result additional weight for an established program under Izzo. The Champions Classic regularly puts major programs against one another early in the season, and beating a second-ranked opponent provides a meaningful early benchmark.
Still, the most important takeaway is what Michigan State demonstrated over 40 minutes: it could control a marquee matchup without relying on one scorer to carry the entire load.
Fears supplied the production and distribution. Ward and Jervis helped provide the scoring depth. The defense limited Duke’s shooting efficiency and created turnovers. Ten Spartans found the scoring column.
Duke, meanwhile, has an early-season result to examine after being held below 34% from the field. Blackwell’s 17 points led the Blue Devils, but the team could not overcome Michigan State’s control of the game.
Three games into the season, Michigan State remains unbeaten. Tuesday’s victory will carry more significance than an ordinary November result, particularly with the Spartans having defeated a top-two opponent on a national showcase stage.
Duke arrived in Chicago ranked No. 2. Michigan State left with the win, the defensive statement and another entry in its Champions Classic history.
And for 40 minutes, the Spartans never gave up the lead.
Piper Rampage
College Football & Men’s College Basketball · The Library Media
The smaller programs aren’t asking for favors. They’re asking for the chance to compete on a field that isn’t tilted before kickoff.