Michigan State pulled out a clutch victory last night over Kansas,beating the seventh-ranked Jayhawks 67-64 victory at the Champions Classic inAtlanta. 

The 21st-ranked Spartans bounced back from a season-opening loss to U-Conn overseas in Germany and are now 1-and-1 on the year. M-S-U junior guard Keith Appling scored 16 of his game high 19 points in the second half, while fellow guard, freshman Gary Harris added 18 points. It was a tight game most of the night with the Spartans coming back from a 59-to-54 deficit with 5 minutes left in the contest.

Appling scored his team’s final 5 points on a triple and then on a driving layup for the clinching Michigan State returns to the court Sunday afternoon with its home opener at the Breslin Center against Texas Southern.