Top-ranked Jayhawks prevail

INDIANAPOLIS – Quentin Grimes scored 21 points in his college debut and Dedric Lawson added 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 1 Kansas past No. 10 Michigan State, 92-87, in the season-opening Champions Classic on Tuesday.

The Jayhawks won their third straight in one of college basketball’s premier events.

Michigan State was led by Joshua Langford with 18 points and Kenny Goins with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Spartans are now 4-21 all-time against No. 1 teams.

The game pitted two power-conference preseason favorites against each other, and the finish was every bit as intriguing as expected.

After Kansas was in control for most of the game, the Spartans frantically trimmed a 10-point deficit to 90-87 with 34 seconds left. They had a chance to make it a two-point game when Devon Dotson missed the second of two free throws with 15 seconds left.

But Cassius Winston missed a layup for Michigan State, Kansas grabbed the rebound and Grimes sealed it by making 1 of 2 free throws.

It sure didn’t look like it would be so close after Kansas withstood Michigan State’s early three-point flurry.

The Jayhawks went on a 13-3 run midway through the first half to turn an 18-16 lead into a 30-17 edge, extended the lead to 44-27 and never let the Spartans get closer than seven until the final minutes.

(9) Villanova 100, Morgan State 77: Eric Paschall scored 26 points and the host Wildcats opened their championship defense with a win.

The Wildcats have won 12 straight games dating to last season and won their 16th consecutive opener.

Isaiah Burke had 17 points for the Bears.