The Spartans gritted through a physical game with significant implications and proved they have what it takes to contend for the Big Ten title down the stretch. 

“Both teams went at it. It was physical but clean,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “And I thought we showed some mental, physical toughness, a little character when we were down.”

Junior guard Tre Holloman led the Spartans from start to finish, scoring 17 points and shooting 7-for-8 from the free throw line. MSU showcased its depth, with all 10 rotation players scoring at least four points. Forwards Coen Carr and Frankie Fidler scored 11 apiece. 

Freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois’ leading scorer and facilitator, was in foul trouble all afternoon, logging just eight minutes after fouling out near the seven-minute mark of the second half. Guard Kylan Boswell, an Arizona transfer, led Illinois’ attack without its heralded freshman, finishing with 13 points. The Spartans continued their defensive efficiency, and their ability to stifle key players like Jakucionis is becoming a calling card for the team. 

MSU made 25 of its 28 shots from inside the arc, taking just 10 three-pointers against a lengthy team on the wings and blocks. 

“We didn’t take many threes. It wasn’t the way (Illinois) guarded,” Izzo said. “We thought we could go inside. We did.”

Illinois controlled the physical battle early. MSU hung around, though, before taking its first lead of the afternoon in the second half and executing in key moments to claim a win that could define its season. 

As the only unbeaten team remaining in the Big Ten, MSU capitalized on the chance to defend its home court against one of the conference’s best teams and display growth from earlier losses to Kansas and Memphis. 

For the Spartans, Sunday wasn’t about winning an 11th straight game, instead it was about seeing how they match up with a contender like Illinois.

The Spartans have five days off before facing Rutgers (10-8, 3-4) at Madison Square Garden in New York City — the ‘mecca’ of basketball. The Scarlet Knights are one of the Big Ten’s middling teams but feature heralded guards Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, both capable threats at all times. 

MSU and Rutgers will tip off at MSG at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25. CBS will air the game. 

MSU and Illinois will play again on Feb. 18 in Champaign.

MSU overcomes early lack of rebounding

Out-rebounded 25-17 in the first half, the Spartans persisted through a subpar stretch on the glass to start the afternoon, climbing back to tie the game at halftime, 36-36. 

“We had some times we could’ve got down,” Izzo said. “I think it showed a little character, some guys that struggled a little bit early, and they bounced back.”

MSU, which gave up 11 offensive rebounds in the first half, had trouble keeping the physical Illini off the glass and missed several opportunities to swing the game early. Jakucionis, who entered Sunday averaging 16.7 points and 5.4 assists per game, was sidelined early after picking up two fouls in three minutes of play.

Still, Illinois rarely missed a beat without its star freshman, getting 16 points in seven minutes from forward Will Riley off the bench. Izzo switched Akins onto Riley, and the Illinois freshman’s early run ended there. 

The Fighting Illini had a clear edge through 12 minutes of play, grabbing seven offensive rebounds while hitting contested shots from distance. At one point, Illinois’ 6-foot-1 guard, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, jumped over Fidler, MSU's 6-foot-7 forward, for a rebound. 

But as the Illini took a double-digit lead early on, the Spartans tightened up. Holloman did a little bit of everything, defending Jakucionis while facilitating MSU’s offense. He finished the first half with 11 points. 

The Spartans struggled from the free throw line in the first half, shooting 9-for-14.

A battle of heavyweights

As MSU and Illinois went back and forth in the second half, Breslin Center had a distinct energy to it, like the students inside the Izzone were ready for a reason to explode. 

That moment came about halfway through the second frame, as the Spartans took their first lead on a three-pointer from Fidler. Coen Carr slammed down an alley-oop moments later to increase MSU’s lead to four. 

Without Jakucionis, Illinois’ best chance to win on the road was by committee. Riley also played with four fouls down the stretch, which didn’t stop him from attacking. With 3:31 remaining and MSU up seven, he converted a three-point play to silence the crowd.

Sunday was a battle of two teams hungry for a statement win and an edge in the Big Ten title race. Before the game, Izzo called Illinois the conference’s best team by his estimation. This was a different stage for the Spartans after winning ten straight dating back to Nov. 27.

“That’s an honor to play in games that matter this much in the middle of January,” Izzo said.

Pushing back against MSU’s lead down the stretch, Illinois was resilient and stayed within striking distance. Eventually, the Fighting Illini had a clear chance to win, down just one point with the ball and the shot clock turned off. Boswell drove through an open lane but threw the ball away. 

Holloman was fouled and made both free throws. Up three points, Izzo elected to foul, and it paid off. Boswell’s attempt to intentionally miss the second free throw was unsuccessful, and the Spartans clinched their biggest win of the season thus far.