The Spartans' 7-0 start in Big Ten play is their best since the 2018-19 season when they last played in the Final Four.

No. 8 Michigan State is in the midst of a bit of a break before it returns to the hardwood to take on Rutgers at Madison Square Garden on

Tre Holloman scored 17 points to lead No. 12 Michigan State to an 80-78 win over No. 19 Illinois on Sunday in East Lansing, Mich. Frankie Fidler and Coen Carr

Tre Holloman had 17 points, Coen Carr and Frankie Fidler scored 11 each and No. 12 Michigan State held on to beat No. 19 Illinois 80-78.

Maryland won at home Sunday against Nebraska, 69-66. Ja’Kobi Gillespie led the way with 22 points for the Terps. The Fighting Illini lost a hard-fought game in East Lansing Sunday to the Michigan State Spartans, 80-78. Kasparas Jakucionis is Illinois’ leading scorer averaging 15.9 points per game.

Michigan State redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. was a huge factor in the Spartans' win over Illinois on Sunday. Fears scored 9 po

Tom Izzo's impact is felt beyond the basketball court and throughout Michigan State's athletic department and community.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - No. 12 Michigan State men’s basketball battled to the very end with No. 19 Illinois, but it was the Spartans coming out on top with an 80-78 victory. MSU picks up its 11th straight victory and improves to 7-0 in conference play.

The Spartans' win over Illinois bought breathing room against one of the Big Ten's most dangerous title contenders.

MSU, which is ranked No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, is coming off a 90-85 victory over Penn State on Jan. 15 in East Lansing. Illinois (13-4, 5-2 Big Ten) is ranked No. 20 in the Coaches Poll and is coming off a 94-69 win over Indiana in its most recent game on Jan. 11.

CBS analysts Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander advocate for NCAA rule change after Illinois' Kylan Boswell's shot over the backboard was disallowed.