Michigan State basketball secured its 11th straight win, topping No. 20 Illinois 80-78 on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans’ victory marked their perfect start to Big Ten play and demonstrated strength and resolve in coming back from a deficit.
Michigan State struggled early on the boards against Illinois, which led the nation in rebounding margin. However, they limited the Illini’s second-chance points, holding them to just six. In contrast, MSU outrebounded Illinois 25-17 overall and outscored them 24-16 in the paint.
The turning point came after Will Riley picked up his third foul less than 2:30 into the second half. This allowed Michigan State to slowly build a lead, starting with a three-pointer from Fidler with 11:05 remaining. The Spartans then capitalized on Tre White’s missed free throw, with Akins collecting the rebound and setting up an alley-oop for Carr.
As Illinois attempted to mount a comeback, they faced several critical setbacks, including a technical foul by their coach. The Spartans took advantage of this, with Fidler scoring two crucial free throws after a Boswell turnover.
In the end, Michigan State’s relentless defense and strong team effort paid off, securing a 10-point win over Illinois.
Source: https://eu.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2025/01/19/michigan-state-basketball-game-score-vs-illinois-80-78-big-ten-standings/77826719007