College Basketball: No. 2 Duke Falls to Michigan State in Upset
The Blue Devils lost 79-73 on the road, while No. 3 Illinois dropped at Texas Tech and No. 1 Florida defeated Florida State.
By Fernando Rojas ·
Top-ranked college basketball programs faced steeper challenges on the road Tuesday, with two of the top three national teams suffering losses. No. 2 Duke lost to No. 5 Michigan State, and No. 3 Illinois fell to No. 16 Texas Tech. Only No. 1 Florida managed to win, taking down in-state rival Florida State.
The Duke loss marked a difficult early season result for the Blue Devils. Michigan State held a lead for most of the game, finishing with a 79-73 victory. The defensive effort by the Spartans limited Duke's shooting opportunities, preventing clean looks throughout the contest. The result serves as an early test for Duke's season as they prepare for a tough upcoming schedule.
Texas Tech capitalized on a strong first-half performance to defeat Illinois. The Red Raiders built a 20-point lead before the half. Illinois attempted a comeback, led by Cruz Davis, who scored 20 points. However, the deficit proved too large to overcome, resulting in a 74-68 win for the home team. The victory is expected to boost Texas Tech's standing in next week's AP poll.
Florida secured an 81-72 win against Florida State in Tallahassee. The Gators faced a hostile crowd, but they maintained control despite a late-game surge by the Seminoles. Florida State cut the deficit to four points with under seven minutes remaining. Thomas Haugh finished with a double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, to seal the victory for Florida. This win moved the Gators to 2-0 on the season.
North Carolina received a scare in their 76-63 win over Wyoming. Coach Michael Malone's team led by only two points at halftime. The Tar Heels outscored Wyoming by double digits in the second half to secure the win. This was the second close game for UNC in three contests. The team will play Georgia at home later this week.
Vanderbilt extended its winning streak to 3-0 with a 105-81 rout of Memphis. The Commodores built on double-digit wins against Wake Forest and Memphis. Ace Glass III contributed 23 points, including five three-pointers. Tyler Tanner added 17 points on 8-for-14 shooting. The loss drops Memphis to 2-1 after an upset win over Iowa State to start the season.
The day featured several standout individual performances. Jeremy Fears Jr. of Michigan State recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists against Duke. His court vision and offensive control were central to Michigan State's dominance. Fears was named the CBS Sports Preseason Player of the Year.
The schedule for these teams remains dense in the coming weeks. Duke will face UConn and Illinois this month. North Carolina has a home game against Georgia on the horizon. Texas Tech and Illinois may meet again in March, depending on health updates for key players on both rosters.
The results from Tuesday reshuffled the narrative for several top programs. While Florida maintained its top ranking, the losses for Duke and Illinois introduce early questions about consistency on the road. The remaining top teams will look to bounce back in their next contests.
