EAST LANSING, Mich. — Tre Holloman contributed 17 points, which included two crucial free throws in the final moments, while Coen Carr and Frankie Fidler each added 11 points as No. 12 Michigan State narrowly defeated No. 19 Illinois with a final score of 80-78 on Sunday.

The Spartans improved their record to 16-2 and are now 7-0 in the Big Ten, marking an impressive winning streak of 11 games. This marks their longest run since the 2018-19 season, which culminated in a trip to the Final Four under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.

Illinois, now at 13-5 and 6-2 in conference play, held a 10-point advantage in the first half. Late in the game, they were down by just one point and had a chance to take the lead. However, Kylan Boswell was unable to convert on a critical possession and turned the ball over with only 5.9 seconds left on the clock.

Following the turnover, Holloman stepped up to sink two free throws, giving Michigan State a slight cushion. Izzo had instructed his players to commit a foul on Boswell rather than risking a three-point shot from Illinois. Boswell managed to make the first of his free throw attempts but deliberately missed the second, trying to regain possession for a last shot. His attempt from the baseline was deemed invalid by the officials, sealing the Spartans’ victory.

Star freshman Kasparas Jakucionis from Illinois struggled, recording season lows of just three points and playing only nine minutes due to foul trouble. Meanwhile, fellow freshman Will Riley emerged from the bench, contributing significantly with a remarkable 16 points in just eight minutes of play, finishing with a total of 19 points.

In summary, Coach Brad Underwood’s team displayed strong efforts despite losing key player Jakucionis for much of the game. For Michigan State, the demanding Izzo will have to acknowledge his team’s resilience in overcoming a double-digit deficit versus one of the Big Ten’s elite teams.

A pivotal moment occurred when the Illinois bench received a technical foul for disputing a call with just over three minutes remaining, allowing Fidler to convert two additional free throws, extending Michigan State’s lead to six points.

In terms of notable statistics, Jakucionis’ performance was significantly hindered, managing only 1 of 3 from the field due to his limited playing time.

Looking ahead, Michigan State is set to face Rutgers on Saturday, while Illinois will host Maryland on Thursday evening.