The Sports Xchange
Nov 14, 2017
CHICAGO -- Duke guard Grayson Allen scored a career-high 37 points and No. 1 Duke pulled away for an 88-81 win over No. 2 Michigan State on Tuesday night at the United Center.
Allen made 11 of 20 shots from the field and 7 of 11 from beyond the arc en route to his career night. Guard Trevon Duval (17 points, 10 assists) and forward Wendell Carter Jr. (12 points, 12 rebounds) each posted double-doubles for Duke (3-0).
Forward Jaren Jackson Jr., guard Miles Bridges and forward Nick Ward scored 19 points apiece in a losing effort. Michigan State (1-1) lost to Duke for the seventh time in a row.
Both teams made big shots during a back-and-forth game that included 11 ties and nine lead changes. After Michigan State forward Kenny Goins and Carter Jr. traded thunderous dunks to even the score at 75, Duke guard Gary Trent Jr. hit a 3-pointer to put the Blue Devils up 78-75 with 3:11 to go.
Allen followed with a 3-pointer to increase Duke's lead to six points with 2:27 remaining. The Blue Devils finished the game on a 17-8 run.
Michigan State overcame a double-digit deficit early in the second half with a 12-2 run to even the score at 56. Ward punctuated the run with a layup and a free throw with 12:27 to play.
Duke built a 38-34 lead at the break. Allen beat the buzzer with a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key to cap an 8-0 run for the Blue Devils to close out the half.
The Spartans trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half before responding with an 11-0 run to seize a 25-24 lead. Jackson Jr. hit two 3-pointers during the run to spark the rally.
NOTES: Duke F Marvin Bagley III headed to the locker room after he was inadvertently poked in the eye by a teammate in the first half. Bagley returned to the bench to start the second half but did not play. ... Michigan State F Ben Carter went down in the second half but remained in the game after he drew an elbow from Duke F Wendell Carter Jr. ... Duke G Grayson Allen scored in double figures for the third time in as many games this season. He has scored in double figures 67 times during his collegiate career.