Marvin Hall/Spartans Illustrated
LOOK BACK: Michigan State 85, Illinois 82 (OT)
Michigan State won the fight it wanted - defense, rebounding, and late execution decided an OT win over Illinois
By Luke Adams
On a frigid Saturday night in East Lansing, the No. 10 Michigan State Spartans reclaimed their identity with a gritty 85–82 overtime win over No. 5 Illinois at a raucous Breslin Center. The victory pushed MSU to 20–4 overall and 10–3 in Big Ten play, reaffirming that, despite a recent two-game skid, the Spartans still possess the resilience – and defensive backbone – to go toe-to-toe with the nation’s elite.
