Tom Izzo etched his name in Big Ten coaching history Saturday night as No. 11 Michigan State surged past Illinois 79-65. The Spartans’ second-half dominance – outscoring the Illini 42-24 – propelled Izzo past Bobby Knight’s conference win record with his 354th victory.
Jaxson Kohler fueled Michigan State’s comeback with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds. This win’s about resilience, Izzo said postgame. Our bigs controlled the paint when it mattered. The Spartans (20-5, 11-3 Big Ten) scored 40 points near the basket while limiting three-point attempts.
Key moments shaping the historic showdown:
- 15-0 closing run by Michigan State as Illinois missed final 18 shots
- Rebounding battle victory (41-36) against nation’s top board team
- Bench contributions: Tre Holloman (14 pts) and Coen Carr (10 pts)
Illinois (19-7, 9-7) faces a brutal schedule ahead with five ranked opponents in six games. Morez Johnson Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis each scored 17 points, but the Illini’s collapsed offense raised questions about March readiness.
Michigan State’s adjusted strategy proved decisive. After shooting 23% from deep in recent losses, they took only 12 three-pointers, focusing instead on high-percentage interior plays. This tactical shift sets up a crucial Tuesday clash against No. 7 Purdue.
