Champions Classic: Michigan State snaps Duke's 79-game closing streak

Jeremy Fears Jr. took control of the ballgame as Michigan State dismantled No. 2 Duke on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils never held a lead in the contest and fell behind by 14 points in the second half. This result ends a 79-game run in which Duke either led or was within one possession of the lead in the final minute.

The Spartans outscored Duke 54-19 in the second half to secure the 79-73 win. Duke players shot 26 percent in the first half, marking the lowest first-half shooting percentage under coach Jon Scheyer. The Blue Devils also missed their first eight three-point attempts and seven of their final eight from beyond the arc.

Fears led the offense with 18 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists. He became the second Division I player in the last five seasons to record at least 15 points, five rebounds, and 10 assists against a top-five opponent. Coach Tom Izzo had challenged his point guard to live up to his preseason ranking as the player of the year favorite. Fears responded by drawing a foul on the second possession and dishing out three assists before the first media timeout.

Jordan Scott anchored the Spartan defense with six blocks, nine rebounds, and two steals. The 6-foot-8 sophomore forced Duke to turn the ball over nine times in the first half. His physical presence helped limit the Blue Devils to 25 points in the opening 20 minutes. Cam Ward added 14 points and six rebounds for Michigan State.

Scheyer described the loss as an out-of-body experience. He noted that his team was not connected and admitted that their pick-and-roll defense was the worst he could remember. Fears drew 17 free throws, a factor Scheyer cited as a key reason for Duke's struggles. The coach stated that he is responsible for the performance and promised to fix the issues.

This victory marks Michigan State's first win over Duke in five Champions Classic meetings. The Blue Devils held an 11-3 record against the Spartans since 2010. Duke faces three more top-five opponents in the next three weeks, including games against Illinois, UConn, and Florida.

Izzo apologized to fans and family for recent losses to Duke. He called the team's performance a necessary step to ease the pain of past defeats. The Spartans will use this momentum as they continue their regular-season schedule.