Top-ranked Duke bests No. 2 Michigan State behind Grayson Allen’s career-high 37 points

The season is young, but college basketball’s most recognizable (and polarizing) face has already made the biggest splash of 2017-18.

Grayson Allen scored a career-high 37 points as top-ranked Duke bested No. 2 Michigan State 88-81 in the first game of the Champions Classic Tuesday night at the United Center in Chicago.

Allen, who has been as well-known in recent years for his controversial tripping incidents as he has for his on-court brilliance, connected on seven of 11 three-point attempts. That brings his season total on shots from beyond the arc to a red-hot 17-for-26.

Allen was aided significantly Tuesday night by the efforts of freshman point guard Trevon Duval. The former McDonald’s All-American chipped in 17 points to go along with 10 assists and six steals. Duval now has 30 assists in his first three college games.

Duke prevailed in the early season battle of national powers despite playing most of the night without the services of superstar freshman Marvin Bagley III. Bagley was accidentally poked in the eye by teammate Javin DeLaurier and did not see the court again. He had four points and six rebounds before suffering the injury.

Three players scored 19 points for Michigan State, including consensus first team preseason All-American Miles Bridges. The sophomore forward added five rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

This was the second-earliest meeting between college basketball’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams, trailing only a contest from Nov. 12, 2013. In that game, which was also a part of the Champions Classic, No. 2 Michigan State took down No. 1 Kentucky by a final score of 78-74.

Tuesday’s result dropped Tom Izzo’s all-time record against Duke to a staggering 1-11. It also moved the Spartans to 3-4 all-time in Champions Classic games. The Blue Devils improved to 4-3 in the event.