DURHAM, N.C. -- Grayson Allen keeps putting up huge numbers for No. 5 Duke. Imagine how much more impressive they might be if he were healthy enough to practice.Allen scored 24 points, Luke Kennard added 20 and the Blue Devils beat Michigan State 78-69 on Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.Allen has been dealing with lingering ft injuries for the past two weeks, with coach Mike Krzyzewski saying he hurt his toe before the Penn State game on Nov. 19 and limped through the Rhode Island game the next day. He checked out of the Appalachian State game early three days ago when he reinjured the toe.Grayson does not practice one second, Krzyzewski said. So when hes out on that court, its a gutty performance. ... That kid has played unbelievably, and hes limping.Amile Jefferson had 17 points and 13 rebounds while freshman Frank Jackson finished with 11 points and keyed a timely 11-0 run for the Blue Devils (7-1), who won their fourth straight despite shting just 27 percent from 3-point range.Eron Harris scored 14 points for Michigan State (4-4). Playing their first game as an unranked team since March 2015, the Spartans had 18 turnovers -- T much AAU ball, not enough college ball, coach Tom Izzo said. Star freshman Miles Bridges was held to 11 points -- six fewer than his team-leading average -- on 4-of-13 shting.I didnt think Miles played as hard as hes been playing, Izzo said. Hed been playing hard, and just got caught standing around.Neither team led by more than four before the Blue Devils broke a 48-all tie by reeling off 11 straight points, a run that coincided with a series of Spartan slaps to the flr -- one of Dukes trademark moves.Seconds after Bridges gave the flr a firm slap, Jackson blew past the Michigan State guards for a layup that gave Duke its largest lead to that point, 55-48, with just under 13 minutes left.I guess it didnt work for them, Jackson said. I just tried to stay aggressive.BIG PICTUREMichigan State: Izzo has admitted he might have overscheduled these Spartans, whose four losses have all come to teams ranked 16th or better in the current AP Top 25, with the last two coming against top-10 teams. Theyve only played twice so far at the Breslin Center, but at least they wont have to leave East Lansing again until Dec. 27.Weve been through the gauntlet, no question about it, but we competed almost to the end, Izzo said. Im going to build on this.Duke: Allen was just 7 of 21 shting in 37 minutes, and the Blue Devils needed major minutes from him because they went just six deep -- the five starters, plus Chase Jeter. Injured freshman forwards Harry Giles, Marques Bolden and Jayson Tatum once again tk part in pregame warmups with varying stages of intensity. Krzyzewski says Tatum had a gd workout, Giles just needs some contact and Bolden is moving along.Every teams season is a little bit different, Krzyzewski said. We just have to run our race the way were running it, and eventually, hopefully, well get all those guys.POLL IMPLICATIONSThis is the kind of victory that will keep the Blue Devils in the top five, and in all likelihd, keep them near the top of the RPI.STAT LINEKrzyzewski said Matt Jones had a spectacular 2-point performance tonight. The Duke senior was just 1 of 7 from the field and missed all six of his 3-pointers to finish with two points -- but keyed the defensive effort that locked down Bridges. When youre all about winning, youre really important, and Matt Jones is only about winning.UP NEXTMichigan State: The Spartans get some relief from their brutal early season schedule and begin a run of five manageable home games Saturday when they play host to Oral Roberts.Duke: The Blue Devils wrap up their four-game homestand Saturday with a visit from Maine before returning to New York to face No. 24 Florida on Dec. 6.---Follow Joedy McCreary at http://twitter.com/joedyap.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. kiestore.com/Texans-Donta-Foreman-Jersey/" target="_blank">DOnta Foreman Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. kiestore.com/Texans-Max-Scharping-Jersey/" target="_blank">Max Scharping Texans Jersey .ca lks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. kiestore.com/Texans-Justin-Reid-Jersey/" target="_blank">http://www.texansrkiestore.com/Texans-Justin-Reid-Jersey/ . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. kiestore.com/Texans-Kahale-Warring-Jersey/" target="_blank">Kahale Warring Texans Jersey . Robinson finished with 17 points, all but two in the second half, and Lawson had 14 after halftime and finished with a game-high 11 assists as the Nuggets handed Dallas its first home loss in eight games this season. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 22, and Kenneth Faried added 10 points and 10 rebounds. kiestore.com/Texans-Tytus-Howard-Jersey/" target="_blank">Tytus Howard Womens Jersey . The visitors tk a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. PITTSBURGH -- Francisco Liriano doesnt believe hes lost his stuff so much as hes misplaced it. The search to find it over the last few weeks sent the veteran Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher to the bullpen for lengthy sessions with pitching coach Ray Searage.Judging by the way he overpowered the Milwaukee Brewers for two occasionally brilliant hours on Thursday night, Liriano appears to be on the right path.His fastball dipping and darting like a bug trying to avoid a fly swatter, Liriano struck out a season-high 13 without issuing a walk over 6 2/3 innings as the Pirates edged the Brewers 5-3.Everything was around the plate, not way down and way up, Liriano said.Something thats been an issue most of the season. Liriano entered the game having allowed a major-league high 62 base on balls. The Brewers didnt work a free pass once as Liriano (6-9) generated some serious momentum in his bid to bounce back from a forgettable first half.The slider was electric, the changeup was disappearing, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. No walks (and) 13 punchouts. Really gd stuff. Really gd composure. Very gd tempo.Following three effective seasons at the top of the Pittsburgh rotation, 2016 has been a challenge for the 32-year-old. Liriano went more than six weeks without a victory, a stretch that ended with a win in Oakland on July 3. He backed it up with better command in a loss to Washington last week, providing a glimpse that he was starting to figure things out.I thought he had great stuff tonight, he really did, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said of Liriano. Thats the best weve seen him in a while, for sure.Lirianos only mistake through the first six innings came on Jonathan Villars solo home run into the Milwaukee bullpen in the third. Liriano struck out the side in the sixth but was removed in the seventh following an RBI double by Perez and an RBI groundout by Scter Gennett.Mark Melancon bounced back from consecutive blown saves to retire the side in order in the ninth for his 28th save.IN A PINCHMatt Joyce smacked a three-run homer in the first inning off Matt Garza (1-4) and later added an RBI groundout. Not bad for a player who didnt know he was playing until outfielder Starling Marte came down with flu-like symptoms a half-hour before the first pitch.Hes kind of like a fiireman, hes ready to go, Hurdle said.ddddddddddddJoyce did his best to cram for Garza -- a former teammate when both played in Tampa Bay -- but felt a bit rushed heading into the on-deck circle with two on and one out in the first. He tk a couple of extra deep breaths to calm down and smacked a pitch from Garza into the seats in right field to put the Pirates up 3-0.When they ring the bell, youve got to go, Joyce said.Gregory Polanco finished with two hits for the Pirates. Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 3 to snap out of a 1-for-16 funk.BREW CREWVillar hit his seventh home run of the season. Hernan Perez added two hits for Milwaukee, which fell to 17-31 away from Miller Park, the second-worst road mark in the National League. Garza dropped his fourth straight decision, allowing five runs, four earned, in five innings with two walks and three strikeouts.I can go deep, I like to keep pitching, Garza said. You put your team in a hole and you cant do that. You just keep going and keep believing. Its there. Ive seen it. I saw it and felt it today. Its a gd step. I know what Ive got to do.TRAINERS RMBrewers: Pitching prospect Adrian Houser underwent Tommy John surgery on his right arm Thursday and will miss at least the next 12 months. The 23-year-old appeared in two games last September for the Brewers and was 3-7 with a 5.25 ERA in 13 starts for Double-A Biloxi this season.Pirates: Reliever Ryan Vogelsong voluntarily removed himself from a rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis after four innings of work on Wednesday night due to neck tightness. Vogelsong, who turns 39 on Friday, is recovering from facial fractures after getting hit by a pitch against Colorado on May 23.UP NEXT:Brewers: Open a 10-game homestand on Friday with a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs. Jimmy Nelson (6-7, 3.39 ERA) is coming off his first win in over a month after tossing seven shutout innings against Cincinnati last Saturday.Pirates: Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.11 ERA) will make his second start since returning from a stint on the DL with a right triceps strain. He will face Philadelphia on Friday. Cole allowed five runs in four innings in a loss to Washington last Saturday. ' ' '