Kentucky Kentucky/Michigan State Michigan St Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

Andre Hutson's layup with 26.4 seconds left gave the No. 2 Spartans a 46-45 win over Kentucky Saturday. Michigan State (8-0) stretched the nation's longest winning streaks to 19 games overall and 35 games at the Breslin Center.

The defending national champions are extremely talented, but they're not good enough to just show up and win games.

"This was definitely an eye-opening experience for us, especially for our young guys," Hutson said. "This was our first real test. It's perfect timing because we're going to Seton Hall on Tuesday."

Hutson, who missed a game-winning attempt in last year's 60-58 loss at Kentucky, scored 16 points. Jason Richardson added eight.

"I thought about that a lot and it's definitely a good way to redeem myself," Hutson said. "This feels a lot better than it did last year."

On Michigan State's game-winning play, Charlie Bell attracted two defenders when he elevated for a shot. He then dropped a pass to Hutson in the lane.

Kentucky's Keith Bogans missed a 5-foot shot with five seconds left while being guarded by two Spartans.

"I figured I would get hit, but I knew (the officials) wouldn't call it that late in the game," Bogans said. "We were right there. We just came up a bit short. We've come up short the last two games."

The Wildcats (3-5) are off to their worst start in 12 years, losing their five games by a total of only 14 points. Tayshaun Prince led them with 16 points, Bogans had 15.

Kentucky coach Tubby Smith admitted that it's a challenge to keep motivating his team to improve after its devastating start.

"We have to keep believing and that's a tough thing to do, especially for a team that has lost some tough, close games," Smith said. "But it's going to help us in the end.

"It's just a matter of me letting them know that I believe in them individually and in what we're doing as a team."

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said he would almost rather lose playing great than win after an awful performance.

"Kentucky won the battle, we won the score," Izzo said. "But I was very pleased with our performance in the second half, especially at the start after getting outworked, outplayed and outhustled in every effort stat. I believe that was more due to them than it was to us."

Kentucky led for much of the first half and enjoyed a 27-18 halftime lead.

Michigan State opened the second half with a 13-0 run to take a 31-27 lead with 13:48 left. Kentucky went ahead twice over the next few minutes.

The Wildcats also led 45-44 with 2:56 left after Prince scored six straight points.

Kentucky lost by two against Georgia Tech last week and by five or less against Penn State, UCLA and St. John's.

"I hope this is just growing pains," said Kentucky's Saul Smith, who connected on only 1-of-7 shots, but made 10 assists. "We're taking a lot of hits right now, but we're going to be tougher in the end."

Muhammad Ali attended the game as a guest of Izzo, as he did for last year's game at home against Connecticut.

Michigan State's Marcus Taylor injured a finger, which might be broken, on his right hand late in the first half.

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Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

Kentucky Clubhouse

Michigan State Clubhouse