The Blue Devils (3-0) gave Krzyzewski his 903rd victory, breaking a tie with Knight, Coach Krzyzewski at Army College and his mentor throughout his career.
Junior guard Andre Dawkins had 26 points for Duke, who took control with a 20-1 offensive that gave the Blue Devils a 61-41 advantage with 9:17 to play. So it was only a matter of counting the minutes until the celebration could be implemented.
With Knight court sitting at the table of transmission of ESPN, and several former players in the stands - many can attend due to the constant blocking of the NBA - Krzyzewski moved to the top of the list in front of a sellout of 19,979 at Madison Square Garden.
Krzyzewski went to the other side of the court to Knight when the game ended. They were cheek to cheek in an embrace. Krzyzewski, with tears in his eyes, was separated and the gentleman back, hands on his shoulders, and then a final blow back.
"I told coach that I love him," Krzyzewski said. "I would not be in this position without him. It's a shared moment. I know he is very proud and feel very proud to have been someone who has worked on it and studied it and tried to be like him."
Not the Cameron Crazies cheering their coach after a couple of nights of waiting and sleep in Krzyzewskiville. However, a pro-Duke started strong as the Blue Devils took control in the second half and the fans of Michigan State, Kentucky and Kansas, and a bunch of regular old New Yorkers as a film director and New York Knicks fan Spike Lee.
"The basketball gods are good ... put two guys who have done much in the game together, special moments, and tonight is another one of those special moments," Krzyzewski said Knight's presence in the historical game.
Dawkins, who had six three-pointers, and Kelly Ryan hit 3s to start running the Grand Duke. As Michigan State (0-2) kept missing shots low, Seth Curry hit another 3 Duke Blue Devils closed and the race to make 6 of 6 attempts at the free throw line.
The Spartans coach Krzyzewski continued until the final minute. Finally started to hit shots and forcing turnovers to around 74-69 with 12.9 seconds left.
Curry scored 20 points, while Kelly added 14 for the Blue Devils, who were 10 of 21 from 3-point line.
"It's a special moment," Krzyzewski said of his family and former players out there. "At halftime I was not sure we would have this time. We beat a very good team and I'm glad we can now only go ahead and just develop our team."
Keith Appling scored 22 points for Michigan State and Brandon Wood added 15. The Spartans finished with 21 turnovers.
Krzyzewski's last victory was a very similar pattern to previous 902, as the Blue Devils were patients in a spread offense that led open 3s and moved the ball against a tired group of Spartans, and finally found a way to free throw line.
The Blue Devils finished 30 of 41 from the line.
Krzyzewski moved to the top of the list as a season of 37, all but five of the Duke. He also coached at West Point, his alma mater, where Knight shaped a base in a coach for all ages.
Knight won his 902 games in 42 seasons, six in the Army, 29 from Indiana and seven at Texas Tech
Krzyzewski and the gentleman took both the United States to an Olympic gold medal, Knight in 1984 and in 2008 Krzyzewski. Coach K will have the opportunity of a second gold medal bearing the team's NBA players back in London next summer.
Another number that they both had in common was the high graduation rates throughout his career.
Duke led 34-33 at the end of the first half neglected. The Blue Devils were 6 of-11 from 3-point line, while the Spartans were only 2 of 6. Michigan State was able to offset 11 turnovers by dominating inside, outscoring the Blue Devils 16-4 in the paint, even a 6-1 lead in second-chance points.
Duke is 26 to 15 of all time, including a 21-7 mark in Krzyzewski, at Madison Square Garden and the Blue Devils have won 12 of their last 14 there. Under Krzyzewski, Duke is 453-71 in non-conference games.
Michigan State opened the season against the number one North Carolina on Friday in the inaugural Classic in the carrier flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson.