Kentucky and Michigan State are two of the most consistently successful programs in men’s college basketball, with a slew of conference titles and Final Four appearances to their name over the past 25 years (to say nothing of a pair of national championships, one for each program).
On Tuesday, as they do once every three years around this time in November, the Wildcats and Spartans squared off, with one of them looking much more the part of a top-20 team than their opponent.
Watch Kentucky vs. Michigan State basketball live with Fubo (free trial)
Behind 20 points from Jaxon Kohler and 13 assists from Jeremiah Fears Jr., No. 18 Michigan State rolled past No. 13 Kentucky 83-66 at the Champions Classic in Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
Coach Tom Izzo’s team shot 50% from the field and 3-point range. After entering the night with just 13 made baskets from beyond the arc across their first three games this season, the Spartans drained 11 3s in the victory. Kentucky, meanwhile, shot just 35.1% overall and 23.3% from 3 (on 30 attempts). Otega Oweh led the way with 12 points for the Wildcats, who were playing without injured starters Jayden Quaintance and Jaland Lowe.
Michigan State’s win was keyed by an 18-2 run in the first half that turned a 3-point deficit into a 13-point advantage. The Spartans led by as many as 24 in the second half and led Kentucky for 34:19 of a possible 40 minutes.
USA TODAY Sports provided the live score, updates and highlights from Michigan State’s win. Here are the highlights:
Kentucky vs Michigan State live score
This section will be updated throughout the game.
Kentucky vs Michigan State live updates
This section will be updated throughout the game.
Michigan State vs Kentucky highlights
FINAL: Michigan State 83, Kentucky 66
The Spartans dominate for the game’s final 30 minutes, earning an 83-66 win against Kentucky in the Champions Classic. The big stars for coach Tom Izzo’s squad were Jaxon Kohler, who had a game-high 20 points, and Jeremiah Fears Jr., who had a game-high 13 assists and controlled the game from the tip to the final buzzer.
Michigan State pushes lead back to 20
Just when Kentucky started to make it a game, Michigan State reasserts itself, going on a 6-0 run to push its lead to 20, its largest advantage of the game, with 5:03 left. That should just about do it here.
Jaxon Kohler is up to 20 points for the Spartans.
Kentucky cuts Michigan State lead to 10
The Wildcats aren’t going quietly into the Midtown Manhattan night. On the heels of a 7-0 run, Kentucky has Michigan State’s lead down to 10 with 10:55 remaining after it had gotten as large as 19 in the second half.
Halftime: Michigan State 44, Kentucky 27
The Spartans dominate the first 20 minutes of play, going into halftime with a 17-point lead over Kentucky. Michigan State shoots 51.5% from the field and 53.8% from 3-point range. Kentucky, on the other hand, is shooting just 27.6% overall and 26.7% from 3 despite getting some good looks.
The Wildcats trailed Louisville by 20 in the second half last Tuesday before cutting the deficit down to four. We’ll see if they have a similar run in them tonight.
Michigan State stretches lead over Kentucky to double digits
Tom Izzo’s Spartans are still rolling offensively, shooting 55.2% from the field and 58.3% from 3-point range to take a 40-25 lead over Kentucky with 3:08 remaining in the first half. Jaxon Kohler leads the way with 12 points while making five of his six shots, including both of his 3s.
Michigan State continues 3-point tear vs Kentucky
After a hot start beyond the arc, Michigan State hasn’t really cooled down. The Spartans have made five of their nine 3-pointers thus far to take a 25-19 lead on Kentucky without about eight minutes left in the first half.
The Spartans had made just 13 total 3s in their first three games this season.
Collin Chandler gives Kentucky early lead vs Michigan State
Whew, what a start in the Big Apple. The Wildcats and Spartans are playing at a frenetic pace that likely favors Mark Pope’s squad given its strengths and tendencies. Kentucky has a 17-14 lead at the first media timeout of the firth half, with Collin Chandler leading the way with seven points and two rebounds.
Michigan State made four of its first five 3-pointers and has gotten eight points from Jaxon Kohler.
Michigan State basketball starters vs Kentucky
Here’s the starting five Michigan State is going with against Kentucky in the Champions Classic:
- G Jeremy Fears Jr.
- G Trey Fort
- F Jaxon Kohler
- F Coen Carr
- C Carson Cooper
Kentucky basketball starters vs Michigan State
Here’s the lineup Kentucky will roll out against Michigan State in the Champions Classic:
- G Otega Oweh
- G Denzel Aberdeen
- G Collin Chandler
- F Brandon Garrison
- F Mouhamed Dioubate
Jaland Lowe injury update
Kentucky point guard Jaland Lowe will miss the Wildcats’ Champions Classic game against Michigan State while he deals with a lingering shoulder injury, with coach Mark Pope passing along the news to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander Tuesday afternoon.
Kentucky vs Michigan State start time today
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Date: Tuesday, Nov. 18
- Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
What TV channel is Kentucky vs Michigan State basketball today?
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)
Kentucky vs Michigan State predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Nov. 18.
- Spread: Kentucky (-4.5)
- Over/under: 153.5
- Moneyline: Kentucky -210 | Michigan State +170
Prediction: Kentucky 82, Michigan State 77
Even without two of their best players, the Wildcats should have enough firepower to outscore a Spartans offense that ranks outside the top 50 nationally in efficiency thus far.