No. 11 Michigan State rallied past Illinois with a score of 79-65 on Saturday night, marking a significant milestone for coach Tom Izzo, who now holds the record for the most conference wins in Big Ten history. Jaxon Kohler led the Spartans with an impressive performance, scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
With this victory, Izzo surpassed the late Indiana coach Bobby Knight, achieving his 354th conference win.
The Spartans (20-5, 11-3 Big Ten) showcased their strength in the second half, outscoring Illinois 42-24. Tre Holloman added 14 points, while Jase Richardson and Coen Carr contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. Michigan State closed the game with a commanding 15-point run, as the Illini struggled, missing their final 18 shots over the last 8:30.
For Illinois (17-9, 9-7), Morez Johnson Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis each scored 17 points, but their efforts were not enough to secure a win.
Takeaways
Michigan State’s three-point shooting has been inconsistent throughout the season, as evidenced by their 14-of-60 (23%) performance from beyond the arc in recent losses. However, they adapted their strategy against Illinois, focusing on interior scoring and achieving 40 points in the paint, while shooting 5-of-12 from three-point range.
Illinois faces a challenging finish to the regular season, with five ranked opponents, including Michigan State again, in their final six games. To succeed in this tough stretch, they will need to deliver strong performances in both halves.
Key moment
The Illini held the lead for the entirety of the first half, even going up by as many as 16 points. However, the Spartans ignited a 13-point run that shifted the momentum, paving the way for their second-half dominance.
Key stat
Both teams entered the matchup with a strong rebounding history, with Illinois being the nation’s top rebounding team. However, Michigan State outperformed expectations by outrebounding the Illini 41-36.
Up next
Looking ahead, Michigan State will host No. 7 Purdue on Tuesday night, while Illinois will travel to face No. 16 Wisconsin on the same evening.
