Kentucky vs. Michigan State final score, results: Spartans upset No. 4 Wildcats in 2OT thriller

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Sam Jarden
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Mady Sissoko
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Michigan State took plenty of body shots, but they refused to go down. In the end, they were the ones to deliver the knockout punch. 

The Spartans' never-say-die attitude led them to a thrilling double overtime win over No. 4 Kentucky in the opening game of the 2022 Champions Classic. Twice, they trailed by 2 points with just seconds on the clock, and twice Malik Hall delivered a game-tying dunk to keep their hopes alive.

That fighting spirit paid off, and they were finally able to pull away thanks to a magnificent performance by Mady Sissoko down the stretch. The junior from Mali, who averaged less than five minutes of playing time per game last season, came up huge with 7 points in the double overtime period. He finished the night with 16 points and 8 rebounds.

MORE: Watch the 2022 Champions Classic live with SlingTV

Kentucky's reigning Wooden Award winner, Oscar Tshiebwe, also had an excellent night (22 points, 18 rebounds). It was his first game of the season as he made his return from an offseason knee procedure, but he looked just as dominant as he did throughout the 2021-22 campaign. Ultimately, it was him fouling out in the first overtime period that took the wind out of the Wildcats' sails.

Joey Hauser (23 points, 8 rebounds) and Hall (20 points) were the other standouts for the Spartans. The win moved them to 2-1, with their only loss coming by a single point to No. 2 Gonzaga on the deck of the USS Lincoln on Friday.

Kentucky is now also 2-1 after tonight's loss. They'll look to bounce back against South Carolina State on Thursday, before heading to Spokane to take on Gonzaga themselves on Sunday, Nov. 20.

The Sporting News was tracking live updates and highlights from Kentucky vs. Michigan State. Here are all the key moments you might have missed from the Champions Classic thriller.

MORE: Ranking college basketball's 10 best freshmen this season

Kentucky vs. Michigan State score

  H1 H2 OT 2OT FINAL
No. 4 Kentucky 34 28 9 6 77
Michigan State 36 26 9 15 86

Kentucky vs. Michigan State live updates, highlights from 2022 Champions Classic

(All times Eastern.)

9:52 p.m. FINAL — It took two overtime periods, but there it is! Michigan State beats Kentucky, 86-77. They're going crazy in East Lansing!

9:51 p.m. — This game is all but over. Michigan State is going to upset No. 4 Kentucky. What an unbelievable performance by the Spartans. 

9:48 p.m. — This is Mady Sissoko's night. He throws down another alley-oop to make it a 6 point game, and after a Kentucky turnover, it looks like it could be lights out for the Wildcats. With 18 seconds left, the score is 82-76. 

9:46 p.m. — After a turnover by Kentucky, Michigan State is on the fast break, but the ball goes out of bounds. It'll still be Spartans ball with about 49 seconds left in double OT. 

9:44 p.m. — Wheeler gets called for a travel, and the ball goes back to Michigan State. Walker charges down the lane and gets fouled, and he goes to the line. He makes both, making it 80-76 Spartans.

9:42 p.m. — SISSOKO IS TAKING OVER. He throws down an alley-oop from Walker to give the Spartans a 2 point lead! He is having a truly magnificent game. 

9:41 p.m. — Sissoko gets fouled again after a scramble at the other end. He makes one of two to tie this game up at 76 apiece.

9:39 p.m. — Sissoko knocks down a pair of foul shots to pull the lead back to 1 point. It's 76-75, Kentucky. 

9:37 p.m. — But they start strong. Fredrick knocks down a jumper, then Wallace drills a three to give Kentucky a 3 point lead!

9:35 p.m. — Hall got free for a wide open dunk, another defensive collapse by Kentucky. With Tshiebwe out of the game, this is going to be tough for the Wildcats. 

9:32 p.m. END OF FIRST OT — HALL AGAIN. He ties it up with another dunk! This is unbelievable! We're headed to double overtime!

9:31 p.m. — But he misses the first AGAIN! He makes the second, and we now have an eerily similar situation to the end of regulation. It's Michigan State's ball, down by 2, with 7.6 seconds left on the clock. 

9:30 p.m. — Walker misses another jumper, and Michigan State has to foul Wallace! He has a chance to extend the lead to 3 at the line.

9:28 p.m. — Tshiebwe has fouled out of this game! The officials called an illegal screen, and he is now gone. Michigan State trails by 1 still, but it's their ball.

9:27 p.m. — Walker buries a jumper to cut the lead to 1. Kentucky nearly lost the ball, but it went off a Spartan and it'll be Wildcats ball with about 40 seconds left. 

9:25 p.m. — Wheeler gets fouled and makes one of two, then Hoggard misses an open jumper on the other end. But Wheeler goes back down and banks in a tough layup off the glass to put Kentucky's lead back to 3!

9:24 p.m. — Sissoko makes a great defensive play, and Tyson Walker takes advantage by swishing a three to tie it back up! This game is unreal!

9:23 p.m. — Hauser then gets fouled and calmly makes both free throws. The Spartans still trail, 67-64. 

9:22 p.m. — Wheeler drains a three to extend the lead to 5 points! Big shot!

9:21 p.m. — Toppin gets fouled, and he makes both free throws to open the scoring in overtime. 64-62 Kentucky.

9:17 p.m. END OF REGULATION — We will head to overtime! Toppin's desperation heave from half court was off the mark!

9:16 p.m. — Hall throws down a dunk to tie it up! But there are still 3.7 seconds left. That's plenty of time for Kentucky to get one last shot off. 

9:15 p.m. — ANOTHER HUGE BLOCK BY TSHIEBWE. Just over 4 seconds to go!

9:12 p.m. — Wallace is fouled and he'll head to the line. The freshman steps up to take the first.. and MISSES. But he makes the second to make it a 2 point game. Izzo uses his last timeout with 11 seconds remaining. Can the Spartans come up big? 

9:10 p.m. — Tyson Walker's short-range jumper rims out, and after a tie-up the possession arrow gives it to the Wildcats! They still lead by a point with 15 seconds left. Michigan State will probably have to foul here. 

9:06 p.m. — Hauser's great game continues, and he hits a jumper to cut Kentucky's lead to just 1 point. The Spartans get a stop at the other end after a missed Tshiebwe jumper, and Tom Izzo takes a timeout. With 35.6 seconds left, it'll be Michigan State ball with a chance to take the lead. 

9:05 p.m. — A scramble for the ball winds up out of bounds, and after an official review they give it to Michigan State. The deficit is 3 points with less than a minute and a half left. 

9:03 p.m. — Toppin gets fouled. He makes one of two, but Tshiebwe comes up with the rebound on the miss and lays it in! Kentucky leads by 3!

9:00 p.m. — A questionable foul call goes the way of the Spartans, and Hall makes both shots to cut the lead to 2. Then, after a Kentucky turnover, Hauser calmly buries the game-tying shot! 

8:59 p.m. — In addition to his 20 points and 13 rebounds, Tshiebwe has also been a defensive monster tonight. He just came up with another huge block. 

8:58 p.m. — Tshiebwe makes both foul shots to stretch Kentucky's lead back to 4. The Spartans turn it over on the other end, but a fast break goes wrong for the Wildcats and they give it right back.

8:55 p.m. — The Spartans return the favor with a turnover of their own, then Sissoko fouls Tshiebwe. That's Sissoko's fourth foul. Tshiebwe will shoot free throws after another TV timeout. 

8:53 p.m. — Hauser hits a long two-pointer to bring his total to 17 points on the night, then Kentucky turns it over at the other end. With under 5 minutes left on the clock, this is going down to the wire. 

8:48 p.m. — Fredrick connects from deep and Kentucky leads by 4! That was his first basket of the night and it's a big one!

8:47 p.m. — Hauser makes one of two, then Tshiebwe slams it home to give the Wildcats a 1 point lead! This game is incredibly back-and-forth. Who will pull it out?

8:45 p.m. — After a foul on the other end, Wheeler makes one of two to tie it back up. Then, Toppin picks up his fourth foul of the night trying to guard Hauser. Hauser may have caught him with an elbow, but it wasn't ruled a foul. 

8:43 p.m. — Sissoko makes both free throws to give the Spartans the lead once again. 

8:39 p.m. — Sissoko gets a putback slam to cut the lead to one, then, after a defensive stop, the officials call an off-the-ball foul on Kentucky. Michigan State will be shooting free throws after a TV timeout.

8:38 p.m. — Tshiebwe picks up his third foul and he'll check out. Just over 8 minutes on the clock now. 

8:37 p.m. — Tshiebwe gets a tough bucket and a foul! He was battling with Michigan State's Carson Cooper down low and got the better of him. He makes the free throw and Kentucky now has a 3 point lead. 

8:33 p.m. — After Chris Livingston makes one of two free throws, Akins gets fouled on the other end and matches him. We're now tied at 47. 

8:28 p.m. — Hauser fights underneath the rim and finally gets a tough bucket to go down. A few missed baskets later, Pierre Brooks knocks down a jumper to tie it back up at 46-46. 

8:25 p.m. — Toppin picks up his third foul, and that will send us into another TV timeout. He joins his teammate CJ Fredrick and Michigan State's Sissoko as players with 3 fouls already. 

8:22 p.m. — Wallace makes a jumper, then gets his sixth (!) steal of the night on the ensuing possession and lays it in on the fast break. Kentucky now leads 46-42. 

8:18 p.m. — Tshiebwe already has a double-double (13 PTS, 10 REB). He looks every bit like the Wooden Award winner he was last season. We have a TV timeout on the floor with the score tied at 42 apiece. 

8:17 p.m. — Now it's Wheeler's turn to connect on a three to tie it right back up! How about this game so far?

8:16 p.m. — Hauser strokes in another three. He is looking sharp from downtown. 

8:13 p.m. — Toppin hits from deep to tie it up, then Sissoko barrels over Wheeler to pick up his third foul. He'll probably have to check out now. 

8:11 p.m. — A pretty passing sequence leads to a foul on Sissoko. He just played good defense to prevent Tshiebwe from getting a bucket at the other end. He goes one of two from the line, and the lead is now five points. 

8:09 p.m. START OF SECOND HALF — The half gets underway, and Hall gets right back to it with a tough turnaround jumper to extend the Spartans' lead. 

8:05 p.m. — Tshiebwe leads all scorers with 11 points heading into the second half, with Michigan State's Hall close behind with 10. 

End of first half: Michigan State 36, Kentucky 34

7:50 p.m. — Malik Hall drills it from downtown, and the Spartans' defense comes up with a stop at the other end to give Michigan State a 36-34 lead at halftime! This has been a great game so far, let's hope it continues in the second half.

7:48 p.m. — Whew, this is turning into a track meet! A flurry of buckets, starting with Tshiebwe and ending with Sissoko, leaves Kentucky up by a point with 44 seconds left in the half. 

7:46 p.m. — Hauser rainbows in another three! That's his third of the game!

7:42 p.m. — After an emphatic Tshiebwe dunk, Sissoko gets called for an offensive foul to end a long stretch without a whistle. It's 30-26 Kentucky with just under 3 minutes left in the half. 

7:39 p.m. — A.J. Hoggard gives Michigan State the lead again with his first points of the night, but Antonio Reeves knocks down a three to take it right back for Kentucky! This has been a fun game so far. 

7:37 p.m. — Tshiebwe makes a layup and Wallace follows it up with Kentucky's first three of the night, but Hauser buries a triple at the other end to make it 25-24, Kentucky. 

7:32 p.m. — And just like that, the Spartans take the lead! Tyson Walker makes the first three-pointer of the night for either team, then Hauser buries another one from deep to make it 21-20! Caliper takes a timeout. 

7:30 p.m. — Lance Hall and Sahvir Wheeler both get buckets to stretch Big Blue's lead to 20-13. They're threatening to pull away early. However, a tough foul call on Toppin allows Jaden Akins to pull it back to a 5 point game. 

7:28 p.m. — Now it's Malik Hall's turn for an and-one. His three-point play cuts Kentucky's lead to 16-13. 

7:26 p.m. — How about this finish by Jaden Akins?!? 

7:25 p.m. — Tshiebwe converts a layup, plus the foul! He makes the free throw to complete the three-point play. It's been a hot start for him tonight, which is bad news for Michigan State. 

7:20 p.m. — It's 9-6 Kentucky at the second TV timeout. Toppin leads all scorers with 4 points so far. 

7:15 p.m. — There's Tshiebwe. The reigning national player of the year gets his first points of the season on a layup under the rim. After a foul on Hauser, Daimion Collins then makes one of two free throes to stretch Kentucky's advantage to 9-4. 

7:14 p.m. — Here comes Oscar Tshiebwe. He gets a big round of applause from the Wildcat fans in attendance as he takes the floor for the first time this year. 

7:12 p.m. — Malik Hall of the Spartans converts on a layup, but then Toppin drains a floater to reestablish Kentucky's lead. It's 6-4 Wildcats as we hit the first TV timeout of the game.

7:08 p.m. — Jacob Toppin (younger brother of the Knicks' Obi Toppin) knocks down a tough jumper to give Kentucky a 4-2 lead, then Joey Hauser wedgies a three at the other end. 

7:06 p.m. — There's that man, Mady Sissoko. He gets the Spartans on the board first. But Cason Wallace, one of Kentucky's elite freshman talents, steals and slams it home to tie it up, 2-2, at the other end. 

7:02 p.m. — Here we go. The 2022 Champions Classic starts now.

6:52 p.m. — Tom Izzy and the Spartans are ready too. Can they bounce back from a tough, close loss to No. 2 Gonzaga on Friday?

6:42 p.m. — The teams are getting set for tip-off in Indianapolis. The No.4 Wildcats look fired up and ready to go.

Kentucky vs. Michigan State start time

  • Date: Tuesday, Nov. 15
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET 

The Kentucky vs. Michigan State game is the first matchup of the 2022 Champions Classic. It will tip off at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. 

What channel is Kentucky vs. Michigan State on?

  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: ESPN app, Sling TV

The matchup will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Dan Shulman and analyst Dick Vitale will be on the call from Indianapolis. 

Fans can also tune in via live stream on SlingTV. 

Author(s)
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Sam Jarden

Sam Jarden is a content producer at Sporting News.