Spartans Drop First Game Of Season 81-71

The Michigan State Spartans Men's Basketball team lost their first game of the 2014-15 season as they dropped an 81-71 decision to the Duke Blue Devils at the Champions Classic at Banker's Life Field House in Indianapolis Tuesday night. The third ranked Blue Devils (3-0)  led most of the game and had a 40-33 lead at the half. MSU closed the gap to three in the second half, Duke then went on a 7-0 run to extend the lead to 10 and then never looked back. The Spartans (1-1) had three players scoring in double figures led by Branden Dawson's 18 points, Travis Trice scored 15 and Denzel Valentine added 13. Dawson also led MSU with nine rebounds. Duke had four players in double figures led by Quinn Cook who scored 19. Michigan State plays again Friday night as they return to Breslin Center to take on Loyola-Chicago. Pregame coverage begins at 5:30pm on Lansing's Big Talker 1240 WJIM and Classic Rock 94.9 WMMQ.