Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) slams down two points during the game against Nicholls at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky Nov. 4, 2025.

Kentucky and Michigan State are two of the most consistently successful programs in men's college basketball, with a slew of conference titles and Final Four appearances to their name over the past 25 years (to say nothing of a pair of national championships, one for each program).

On Tuesday, as they do once every three years around this time in November, the Wildcats and Spartans will square off.

Watch Kentucky vs. Michigan State basketball live with Fubo (free trial)

The annual Champions Classic will tip off on Tuesday, Nov. 18, with a matchup between the No. 13 Wildcats and the No. 18 Spartans serving as the first entry in a doubleheader at Madison Square Garden in New York.

In its second season under coach Mark Pope, Kentucky is aiming to get back to the Final Four for the first time since 2015, an unusually long drought for a program with justifiably high expectations. After a Sweet 16 appearance last season, the Wildcats ramped up their roster-building efforts, assembling a team worth a reported $22 million. That group includes returning stars like All-SEC honoree Otega Oweh, but also prized transfers like Jayden Quaintance, Denzel Aberdeen and Jaland Lowe. Quaintance, however, is still in the final stages of rehab after tearing his ACL last season at Arizona State and Lowe will reportedly miss Tuesday's game while nursing a shoulder injury. The Wildcats have endured an early stumble, too, falling 96-88 to archrival Louisville in a game they trailed by as many as 20 in the second half.

Kentucky will take on a Michigan State team with lofty goals of its own. Though the Spartans lost their top three scorers from a team that earned a No. 2 seed and advanced to the Elite Eight last season, they were still No. 21 in the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. They've made good on that promise early this season, getting off to a 3-0 start and beating what was a top-15 Arkansas team 69-66 on Nov. 8. Forward Jaxon Kohler, one of coach Tom Izzo's top returning scorers, has been superb so far this season, averaging a team-high 14.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game.

Michigan State won the last meeting between the programs, an 86-77 double-overtime victory at the 2022 Champions Classic in Indianapolis.

USA TODAY Sports will be providing the live score, updates and highlights from Kentucky's game against Michigan State. Follow along:

Kentucky vs Michigan State live score

This section will be updated throughout the game.

1 2 F
Michigan State 44 — —
Kentucky 27 — —

Kentucky vs Michigan State live updates

This section will be updated throughout the game.

Halftime: Michigan State 44, Kentucky 27

The Spartans dominate the first 20 minutes of play, going into halftime with a 17-point lead over Kentucky. Michigan State shoots 51.5% from the field and 53.8% from 3-point range. Kentucky, on the other hand, is shooting just 27.6% overall and 26.7% from 3 despite getting some good looks.

The Wildcats trailed Louisville by 20 in the second half last Tuesday before cutting the deficit down to four. We'll see if they have a similar run in them tonight.

Michigan State stretches lead over Kentucky to double digits

Tom Izzo's Spartans are still rolling offensively, shooting 55.2% from the field and 58.3% from 3-point range to take a 40-25 lead over Kentucky with 3:08 remaining in the first half. Jaxon Kohler leads the way with 12 points while making five of his six shots, including both of his 3s.

Michigan State continues 3-point tear vs Kentucky

After a hot start beyond the arc, Michigan State hasn't really cooled down. The Spartans have made five of their nine 3-pointers thus far to take a 25-19 lead on Kentucky without about eight minutes left in the first half.

The Spartans had made just 13 total 3s in their first three games this season.

Collin Chandler gives Kentucky early lead vs Michigan State

Whew, what a start in the Big Apple. The Wildcats and Spartans are playing at a frenetic pace that likely favors Mark Pope's squad given its strengths and tendencies. Kentucky has a 17-14 lead at the first media timeout of the firth half, with Collin Chandler leading the way with seven points and two rebounds.

Michigan State made four of its first five 3-pointers and has gotten eight points from Jaxon Kohler.

Michigan State basketball starters vs Kentucky

Here's the starting five Michigan State is going with against Kentucky in the Champions Classic:

  • G Jeremy Fears Jr.
  • G Trey Fort
  • F Jaxon Kohler
  • F Coen Carr
  • C Carson Cooper

Kentucky basketball starters vs Michigan State

Here's the lineup Kentucky will roll out against Michigan State in the Champions Classic:

  • G Otega Oweh
  • G Denzel Aberdeen
  • G Collin Chandler
  • F Brandon Garrison
  • F Mouhamed Dioubate

Jaland Lowe injury update

Kentucky point guard Jaland Lowe will miss the Wildcats' Champions Classic game against Michigan State while he deals with a lingering shoulder injury, with coach Mark Pope passing along the news to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander Tuesday afternoon.

Kentucky vs Michigan State start time today

  • Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
  • Date: Tuesday, Nov. 18
  • Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)

What TV channel is Kentucky vs Michigan State basketball today?

  • TV: ESPN
  • Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

Kentucky vs Michigan State predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Nov. 18.

  • Spread: Kentucky (-4.5)
  • Over/under: 153.5
  • Moneyline: Kentucky -210 | Michigan State +170

Prediction: Kentucky 82, Michigan State 77

Even without two of their best players, the Wildcats should have enough firepower to outscore a Spartans offense that ranks outside the top 50 nationally in efficiency thus far.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kentucky vs Michigan State basketball live updates: Champions Classic game score, highlights

Reporting by Craig Meyer, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

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