Photo: Dale Zanine ~ IMAGN IMAGES
EAST LANSING, November 12, 2024 ~ Michigan State basketball gave No.1 Kansas a fight at the Champions Classic in Atlanta Tuesday evening, losing 77-69. A lack of efficient three point shooting and no answer for Jayhawk center Hunter Dickinson decided the game in the eight point defeat. The green and white shot 3-24 from beyond the arc while the former Wolverine tallied a game high 28 points and 12 rebounds.
Besides those two negatives, it was mostly positive for MSU in an uphill battle against the top team in the nation. Senior forward Frankie Fidler led the green and white in scoring with 15, while junior forward Jaxon Kohler led the team in rebounds with 10, adding in 12 points for his second double-double of the season.
The Spartan defense held their own all night long besides Dickinson’s performance. The turnover and rebound numbers were about even on both sides, while MSU only allowed a 28-69 shooting performance from Kansas.
Freshman Jase Richardson also continued his very strong start to his career, scoring eight points with one of the team’s only three pointers of the game. He brought much needed energy off the bench.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Hit the FT to end the 1H with a 4-point play 💪
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) November 13, 2024
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/XF1PlHKBgi
(CONTINUED) Senior captain guard Jaden Akins and sophomore forward Xavier Booker combined for two points this evening, shooting a combined 1-13. Both players lacked aggressiveness on the offensive end the whole 40 minutes.
The offense ran much smoother while redshirt freshman point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. was on the floor. He has been the main catalyst throughout the first three games, adding a team high six assists tonight with nine points.
Michigan State will come back home this weekend for a matchup against Bowling Green.
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