Illinois Goes Cold Late as Michigan State Rallies for Statement Win
In a matchup that had all the makings of a Big Ten slugfest, Michigan State once again found a way to outlast Illinois-this time with a dominant closing stretch that turned a tight game into a convincing 79-65 win at State Farm Center.
This one was a tale of two halves, and unfortunately for Illinois, the second half was all Spartans.
A Promising Start That Fizzled
Illinois came out firing. The crowd was electric early, especially after Morez Johnson Jr. threw down back-to-back dunks that sent a jolt through the building.
Will Riley added to the energy with a smooth jumper that pushed the Illini to a 16-point lead in the first half. At that point, it looked like Illinois had found the rhythm they’d shown in recent wins over Minnesota and UCLA.
But Michigan State didn’t flinch.
Despite the early deficit, the Spartans clawed back behind 14 first-half points off Illinois turnovers. That pressure defense, paired with some gritty midrange shooting, helped MSU trim the lead to four at the break, with Illinois clinging to a 41-37 advantage.
The Collapse
Then came the second half-and the unraveling.
Illinois went ice cold from the field, missing their final 19 shots of the game. Yes, 19 straight.
They finished the night shooting just 7-for-33 from three-point range, including a brutal 1-for-16 in the second half. For a team that had been finding its identity again, this was a step backward.
Head coach Brad Underwood didn’t sugarcoat it afterward.
“We fell in love with what was easy, which was shooting threes,” Underwood said. “I thought the difference was the last ten minutes of the game, where we had been living in the paint...
We just stopped and I wish I had the answer for that. We just stopped.”
That shift away from attacking the rim proved costly. Michigan State capitalized, closing the game on a 15-0 run over the final 8:26. Illinois simply couldn’t buy a bucket, and the Spartans made them pay.
Freshmen Shine, But Can't Do It Alone
The Illini’s young core did everything they could to keep the team afloat. Kasparas Jakucionis, Will Riley, and Morez Johnson Jr. combined for 47 points and were the only real offensive spark Illinois had in the second half.
Jakucionis pointed to the team’s shift in offensive approach as a turning point.
“At the beginning I think we shared the ball well,” he said. “We made some shots.
We started on the defensive end pretty well. And then like I said, we stopped driving the ball, stopped penetrating the defense.
And then it just led to bad shot selection.”
Morez Johnson Jr. was a force inside, especially early, and even drew praise from Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo.
“Tough,” Izzo said of Johnson Jr. “Great hands.
Does all the dirty work. I think one of the best offensive rebounders...
I think his future is enormous. I think he’s got toughness and there’s not a lot of guys with toughness anymore.”
But as good as the freshmen were, they couldn’t overcome the cold shooting or the Spartans’ late surge.
Kohler Leads the Way for Spartans
On the other side, Jaxon Kohler was the difference-maker for Michigan State. He poured in 23 points and knocked down four threes, providing the kind of scoring punch that kept MSU in striking distance early and helped them pull away late. The Spartans also leaned into their bread-and-butter: midrange execution and physicality on both ends.
This win not only tightens the Big Ten race but also reinforces Michigan State’s identity as a team that thrives in the grind. They’ve now taken both meetings against Illinois this season and extended their lead in the all-time series to 67-64.
What’s Next?
For Illinois, the loss stings-not just because of the result, but because of how it happened. After showing signs of turning a corner, the Illini reverted to the bad habits that haunted them earlier in the season. The talent is there, especially with the freshman trio, but consistency remains elusive.
As for Michigan State, this was a veteran performance. They weathered the early storm, stayed composed, and executed down the stretch. That’s the Izzo blueprint, and it’s looking sharp as ever as the Spartans head into the final stretch of Big Ten play.
Tip your cap to the Spartans-they earned this one. But for Illinois, there’s still time to regroup.
The pieces are there. It’s just about putting them together when it matters most.