Allen leads No. 1 Duke past No. 2 Michigan State
CHICAGO — Grayson Allen — Duke’s lone senior — scored a career-high 37 points, freshman Trevon Duval had 17 points and 10 assists, and the topranked Blue Devils beat No. 2 Michigan State 88-81 in the Champions Classic on Tuesday night.
On a court full of some college basketball’s brightest stars, Allen stepped up whenever his team needed a big play. The Blue Devils (3-0) lost Marvin Bagley III to an eye injury midway through the first half, but Allen made five 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the second half to help make up for the missing freshman phenom.
Wendell Carter Jr. added 12 points and 12 rebounds, helping Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski improve to 12-1 in his career against Michigan State.
No. 4 Kansas 65, No. 7 Kentucky 61
CHICAGO — Svi Mykhailiuk scored 17 points, and Devonte Graham hit the clinching free throws for Kansas.
In a game that matched the two winningest Division I programs, the Jayhawks (2-0) prevailed after the teams spent most of the second half trading baskets and leads.
Malik Newman had a key rebound in the closing seconds and hit two foul shots to help Kansas knock off the Wildcats (2-1).
Kevin Knox led Kentucky with 20 points, and Hamidou Diallo added 14.
No. 5 Villanova 113, Nicholls 77
PHILADELPHIA — Mikal Bridges rejected consecutive shots by Roddy Peters in the lane, producing “oohs” from the crowd.
And No. 5 Villanova wasn’t done, not even on this possession.
Omari Spellman brought the fans and bench players to their feet by swatting Tevon Saddler’s follow attempt from behind, giving the Wildcats three blocks in 8 seconds and setting the tone in a record-setting 113-77 rout of Nicholls on Tuesday night.
Bridges set career highs with 23 points, four blocks and five steals, and Villanova (2-0) set a school record by blocking 13 shots. Spellman also had four rejections.
Donte DiVincenzo added 20 points, Jalen Brunson had 17 and the Wildcats had six players in double figures while shooting 58 percent from the field in their second straight blowout of an inferior opponent.