Coming off three losses in four games, MSU scored 15 unanswered points in the final seven minutes against Illinois on Saturday night, erasing a 16-point first-half deficit for a 79-65 win in a hostile environment.

The Spartans tightened the screws at the right time, holding the Fighting Illini scoreless over the last 8:29 of play on 0-for-19 shooting. 

"I can’t think of a better way to bounce back than winning here," Izzo said postgame. 

MSU’s Big Ten Championship hopes remain alive and well thanks to its furious rally down the stretch. The Spartans sit alone in second place, half a game behind Michigan (19-5, 11-2) and ahead of Purdue (19-7, 11-4) and Wisconsin (20-5, 10-4).

Kohler led MSU from start to finish, keeping the team afloat early and taking over late, delivering a career-high 23 points and a double-double on 9-for-13 shooting, including 4-for-5 from three. The Spartans also leaned on junior guard Tre Holloman’s steady 14 points and three assists on 6-for-12 shooting. 

"Jaxon had one of those career nights," Izzo said. "He hit a couple of threes, opened things up for us a little bit when we were struggling and down and we went to him in the second half, and I thought he responded."

Illinois’ attack started with sensational freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis and ended with freshman forward Morez Johnson Jr., who scored 11 of his 17 total points in the second half. Jakucionis also finished with 17 points, 13 coming in the first half. 

MSU delivered a crucial win for its morale and championship aspirations, with five of its final six games against ranked opponents, including four against Big Ten title contenders Michigan, Purdue and Wisconsin.

The Spartans return home to face Purdue next Tuesday in their biggest home game of the season. The two-time reigning conference champion Boilermakers lost 94-84 to Wisconsin on Saturday.

The first meeting between MSU and Purdue this season will tip off at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Breslin Center. The game will be streamed exclusively on Peacock. 

Spartans stagger, then surge

Against an Illinois team looking to avenge its 80-78 loss in East Lansing — where Jakucionis played just nine minutes due to foul trouble — MSU struggled early in front of a fired-up "Orange Krush" crowd at State Farm Center.

Illinois bullied its way to a 17-6 lead just over five minutes into play, drawing an Izzo timeout. The MSU form that lost three out of four straight entering Saturday showed up to the fight, and as Illinois sophomore Jake Davis buried two threes and sent a packed house into a frenzy, it appeared the Spartans were in for a long night. 

For nearly 15 minutes in the first half, MSU lacked the firepower or momentum needed to challenge Illinois’ steady offensive attack and defensive disruptors.

Then, Kohler took matters into his own hands. MSU’s 6-foot-9, 245-pound junior forward scored 10 of his 12 first-half points in the frame’s final 4:24, including a pair of triples to keep Illinois honest on the perimeter. 

Meanwhile, the Spartans repeatedly found Carr, who shot 5-for-6 in the first half and converted opportunities at the rim as MSU crept within four points at the halftime buzzer. The Orange Krush fell quiet. 

"I think anytime you can go on a run like that, it’s very impressive and important when you’re on the road," Izzo said. "Because you don’t want to get this crowd."

MSU trailed 31-15 with 8:46 left in the first half but cut the deficit to 41-37 by halftime.

Late MSU onslaught

MSU carried its late first-half momentum into the second, quickly taking a 48-44 lead, its first of the night.

The Illini relied on their interior play to fight back, turning to Johnson for 11 of their first 17 second-half points. Johnson and company also re-established control defensively, continuously defending MSU’s straight-line drives at the rim without fouling. 

Neither team led by more than four points until 3:35 remained in the game when the game swung MSU’s way in just moments. 

With the Spartans clinging to a slim 69-67 lead, a prior goaltending call against MSU was overturned during a timeout on the floor. Illinois forward Tomislav Ivisic subsequently missed the front end of a one-and-one. On the other end, Cooper finished a Holloman lob with a ferocious slam. 

The six-point swing proved pivotal as MSU closed out the game on a 17-2 run and secured a season-altering win.