No. 3 Kansas and Michigan State delivered a back-and-forth first half Tuesday night with the Jayhawks taking a 39-32 lead to the break as college basketball season tipped off with a marquee matchup between two powerful programs in the Champions Classic. Kansas wing Ochai Agbaji led all scorers in the half with 12 points.
A.J. Hoggard provided a spark off the bench for Michigan State in the first half. The sophomore guard scored eight points and dished out three assists while playing extended minutes as starting point guard Tyson Walker sat with two fouls. Walker, who transferred in from Northeastern, is expected to play a key role for the Spartans. He and counterpart Remy Martin both struggled in the first half, however.
Martin, an Arizona State transfer who was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, played just 11 minutes in the first half and didn’t attempt a shot. He had two assists and two turnovers. Walker played just four minutes and had two turnovers with one assist.
Keep it locked here throughout the night for live coverage and analysis as the Spartans and Jayhawks begin the season in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden.