No. 1-ranked Kansas opened its season of great expectations by upending an old Champions Classic nemesis, Michigan State, on Tuesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Freshman guard Quentin Grimes, who scored just 17 points combined in two exhibition games, poured in 21 points and Dedric Lawson added 20 (on 5 of 18 shooting) with 14 rebounds as the Jayhawks toppled the No. 10-ranked Spartans, 92-87.
KU, 0-2 against Big Ten blueblood Michigan State in the eighth annual edition of this event, prevailed despite seeing a 17-point second-half lead dip to three points with 19.9 seconds to play.