The final score of Duke’s loss to Michigan State is misleading in more ways than one. The six point deficit belies the fact that the Spartans held a comfortable lead for much of the second half en route to their victory, with the final margin trimmed only by some desperation Duke threes. But while Duke struggled mightily for most of the contest, that final score also obscures the potential that the young Blue Devils showed early in the game.
Duke led Michigan state 18-9 after 10 minutes of play, buoyed by a suffocating defensive effort that forced a normally sure-handed Spartan squad into numerous turnovers.