Jeremy Fears leads No. 5 Michigan State to convincing upset over No. 2 Duke in early statement win
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Michigan State defeated No. 2 Duke 79-73 in the State Farm Champions Classic, with Jeremy Fears Jr. recording a double-double of 18 points and 11 assists, asserting himself as a top point guard nationally.
- The Spartans dominated early, shooting well and forcing turnovers, leading to a nine-point halftime advantage while holding Duke to just 26% shooting in the first half.
- Michigan State maintained control throughout the second half, responding effectively to Duke's attempts to close the gap and securing a six-point victory.
- Duke struggled offensively, with only John Blackwell scoring in double figures, and now faces a challenging schedule including matchups against top-ranked teams Florida, Illinois, and UConn.
- Michigan State improves to 3-0 with this win and gains momentum heading into a less demanding schedule, positioning them as a strong national title contender under coach Tom Izzo.
