Lansing Sun

In a closely contested basketball game, Michigan State triumphed over Illinois with a score of 80-78 at the Breslin Center. The match saw contributions from multiple players on the Michigan State team, leading to their victory against the ranked opponent.

Tre Holloman led Michigan State with 17 points, hitting seven out of eight free throws. He also contributed two rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Coen Carr and Frankie Fidler each added 11 points to the team's total. Carr also managed two blocked shots while Fidler provided three assists.

Michigan State's win marks their eleventh consecutive victory, improving their overall record to 16-2 and maintaining an unbeaten streak in the Big Ten Conference at 7-0. Illinois now holds a record of 13-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play.

The game was tightly contested throughout, with six ties and five lead changes occurring in the second half alone. Michigan State managed to overcome a ten-point deficit from the first half, tying the game at halftime before pulling ahead for good after trailing briefly in the second half.

Key moments included Jeremy Fears Jr.'s layup and free throw that helped Michigan State secure a lead they maintained until the end. Jaden Akins' late driving layup further extended their advantage.

The Spartans showed efficiency at the free throw line, making 77.8% of their attempts overall and an impressive 92.3% in the second half. They also out-rebounded Illinois significantly in the latter part of the game.

This victory adds to Michigan State's historical success against Illinois, bringing their all-time series lead to 66-64 and extending their home winning streak this season to ten games.

Head Coach Tom Izzo continues his successful tenure with this win adding to his career record now standing at 723-297. The Spartans will next face Rutgers at Madison Square Garden on January 25th.