No. 2 Duke suffered its first loss of the season Tuesday night, falling 79-73 to No. 5 Michigan State in the State Farm Champions Classic at Chicago’s United Center. It was Michigan State’s first win over Duke in five meetings at the event, as first reported by ClutchPoints.
The Spartans’ defense set the tone. Duke shot just 33.3% from the field and 7-of-29 from three, and Michigan State turned 13 Blue Devil turnovers into 16 points. Jeremy Fears ran the show with 18 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists, and Cam Ward gave the Spartans 14 points and six boards in 20 minutes off the bench.
For Duke, John Blackwell led the way with 17 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Patrick Ngongba II filled the box score with 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four blocks.
Jon Scheyer didn’t make excuses afterward. “Congrats to Michigan State. They 100% deserved to win,” he said, before adding that his team simply wasn’t connected and that Duke would fix it.
The IAHHM Take
Down here on Tobacco Road, a November loss in Chicago won’t decide anything, but it does tell you something. Duke can’t win a rock fight shooting 7-of-29 from deep. When the threes stop falling, this group needs more paint touches and fewer rushed possessions, and Scheyer basically said as much.
Credit to Tom Izzo’s group, too. Fears controlled the whole night, and Ward’s bench minutes flipped the game in the first half. Michigan State is 3-0 and looks like a real problem in March.
Duke gets a chance to reset Friday against SIU Edwardsville. Is this a wake-up call or a warning sign? Blue Devil fans, we want to hear it. And keep up with more college hoops, like Alijah Arenas and Rodney Rice going off for USC.
Source: ClutchPoints
