No. 12 Michigan State rallied to secure a narrow victory over No. 19 Illinois, winning 80-78 in a thrilling matchup on Sunday. Tre Holloman led the Spartans with 17 points, including crucial free throws in the final seconds, while teammates Coen Carr and Frankie Fidler contributed 11 points each.
With this win, the Spartans improved their record to 16-2 and maintained an impressive 7-0 in Big Ten play, marking their longest winning streak since the 2018-19 season, which culminated in Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo’s eighth trip to the Final Four.
The Fighting Illini, now 13-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play, initially took control of the game, building a 10-point lead in the first half. However, they found themselves trailing by one point late in the game when Kylan Boswell committed a turnover with just 5.9 seconds remaining.
Holloman capitalized on the turnover by sinking two free throws, extending the Spartans’ lead. Izzo’s strategic decision to foul Boswell instead of allowing a potential game-winning three-pointer proved pivotal. Boswell converted the first free throw but intentionally missed the second, attempting a last-second shot from the baseline that was ruled out of bounds by officials.
Illinois star Kasparas Jakucionis faced a tough game, finishing with just three points and nine minutes on the floor due to foul trouble. In contrast, freshman Will Riley stepped up, scoring 16 points in eight minutes during the first half and ending with a total of 19 points.
Takeaways
Illinois: Coach Brad Underwood’s squad showcased resilience, managing to stay competitive even with Jakucionis, a 2025 NBA Draft prospect, sidelined for much of the game.
Michigan State: Coach Izzo’s team earned praise for their tenacity, bouncing back from a significant deficit against a formidable Big Ten opponent.
Key moment
A notable moment occurred when Illinois’ bench received a technical foul for arguing a call with 3:18 left in the game. Fidler capitalized on this opportunity, making two free throws that extended Michigan State’s lead to six points.
Key stat
Jakucionis’ performance was significantly impacted by foul trouble, as he finished with just one field goal on three attempts.
Up next
Looking ahead, Michigan State will face Rutgers on Saturday, while Illinois will host Maryland on Thursday night.
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