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CHICAGO -- Michigan State appeared to have no limits on Tuesday night. The fifth-ranked Spartans entered as underdogs against No. 2 Duke at the United Center in the Champions Classic, but they controlled the game from start to finish. Duke never held a lead, and the only tie came at 2-2. Michigan State looked like the superior, more unified team throughout the 79-73 win, with several players turning in remarkable individual efforts.
Jeremy Fears Jr.: The Catalyst
As has become customary for the Spartans, everything revolves around Jeremy Fears Jr. The guard nearly recorded a triple-double against the Blue Devils, finishing with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. He drew 12 fouls and shot 12-of-17 from the free-throw line. Fears took over in the second half, scoring 15 of his points after halftime. The performance was likely extra satisfying for Fears, who went 0-for-10 from the field in Michigan State's home loss to Duke last season. This is exactly the kind of outing the Spartans need from their star and National Player of the Year candidate in big games. Through three games, Fears is averaging 14.3 points and 10.3 assists per contest.
Jordan Scott: Defensive Dynamo
Jordan Scott delivered what may have been the best defensive performance by a Michigan State player in recent memory. Channeling his inner Dikembe Mutombo, Scott blocked an astonishing six shots, five of which came in the first half. Despite struggling offensively (5 points on 2-of-7 shooting), his defense was a spectacle and likely caught the attention of more NBA scouts. He also grabbed nine rebounds. "He just impacts winning; he just really impacts winning," Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said afterward. "You gotta give him a lot of credit. His size on the perimeter, that's usually what we have. His size, I think, bothered us. Six blocks, I think that tells the story. But yeah, big fan of him, and he did a great job."
Cam Ward: Breakout Performance
Cam Ward's stock may have risen the most. While Fears and Scott are established commodities, Ward had been struggling, managing just nine points and six rebounds combined in the season's first two games against Quinnipiac and Toledo, with his woes extending to exhibition play. Against Duke, Ward erupted for 14 points and six rebounds, reminiscent of his 18-point, 10-rebound effort against Arkansas in the second game of last season. Perhaps Ward simply thrives in premier November matchups, but his performance against the Blue Devils was highly encouraging. "It meant a lot, you know what I'm saying, especially just because I haven't been playing well," Ward said postgame. "So, just to finally find some type of rhythm feels good."