Fears stars as No. 5 Michigan State knocks off No. 2 Duke 79-73 in
Champions Classic
[November 11, 2026]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — Jeremy Fears Jr. had 18 points, 11
assists and seven rebounds as No. 5 Michigan State shut down No. 2 Duke
for a rugged 79-73 win Tuesday night.
Playing coach Tom Izzo's usual swarming, physical defense, Michigan
State held Duke to 33.3% (20 for 60) shooting from the field and forced
13 turnovers. Jordan Scott had six of the Spartans' eight blocked shots
and two of the team's seven steals. |
Michigan State forward Jordan Scott, right, drives as Duke guard Cayden
Boozer defends during the first half of NCAA college basketball game in
State Farm Champions Classic in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. (AP
Photo/Nam Y. Huh) |
|
Cam Ward added 14 points as Michigan State (3-0) earned its
first win against Duke since a 75-69 victory on Dec. 1, 2020.
The Spartans also improved to 7-9 in the Champions Classic, an
annual doubleheader that also includes Kansas and Kentucky in
various combinations and different cities early in the season.
John Blackwell scored 17 points for Duke (2-1), and Patrick
Ngongba II finished with 11. The shooting trouble for the Blue
Devils extended to the free-throw line, where they went 26 for
37.
Duke opened the regular season with a pair of runaway victories
against Army and Coastal Carolina, averaging 98.5 points while
shooting a combined 55% from the field. But the Blue Devils
looked uncomfortable for most of the night at United Center,
home of the NBA's Chicago Bulls.
Jesse McCulloch made two free throws and Fears converted a
three-point play to help Michigan State open a 50-36 lead with
13:37 remaining.
Duke closed to 73-68 on Caleb Foster's two foul shots with 2:03
to go. But then Scott responded with a driving layup for
Michigan State, and Fears made two free throws with 39 seconds
left.
Fears drove inside to set up Ethan Taylor’s three-point play
late in the first half, lifting Michigan State to a 34-25 lead
at the break. Fears had eight assists at halftime, and the Blue
Devils shot 25.9% (7 for 27) from the field in the early going.
Up next
Duke hosts SIU Edwardsville on Friday night.
Michigan State hosts Northern Iowa on Friday night.
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