Michigan State University
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Kansas
Spartans Rally Against Top-Ranked Jayhawks Comes Up Short
11/6/2018 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- Joshua Langford scored 18 points and Kenny Goins added 17 points and 11 rebounds, but No. 10 Michigan State's rally came up short against No. 1 Kansas in a 92-87 defeat in the season-opening Champions Classic Tuesday.
Quentin Grimes scored 21 points in his college debut and Dedric Lawson added 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks.
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 3-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 advantage, extended the lead to 44-27 and never let the Spartans get closer than seven until the final minutes.
STAT PACK
Winston had 13 points and 11 assists. Matt McQuaid added 12 points. ... The Spartans were outrebounded 42-40 and 11-5 on the offensive end. ... Michigan State also committed 18 turnovers and was 23 of 35 from the free-throw line while going 12 of 23 on 3-pointers.
UP NEXT
Michigan State's traditionally daunting non-conference continues Sunday when defending Atlantic Sun regular-season champion Florida Gulf Coast visits East Lansing.
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