A Record-Breaking Night for Tom Izzo as Illinois Squanders 16-Point Lead
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Jaxson Kohler had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Tre Holloman scored 14 points and No. 11 Michigan State rallied to beat Illinois 79-65 on Saturday night, giving the Spartans’ Tom Izzo the most conference wins in Big Ten history.
Izzo moved past late Indiana coach Bobby Knight with his record 354th conference victory.
Who Starred
Jase Richardson contributed 11 points and Coen Carr had 10 for the Spartans (20-5, 11-3 Big Ten), who outscored Illinois 42-24 in the second half. They finished with a 15-point run as the Illini missed their last 18 shots over the final 8 1/2 minutes.
Morez Johnson Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis each scored 17 points for Illinois (19-7, 9-7).
Takeaways
Michigan State: Three-point shooting has been a problem for the Spartans all season. They were 14 of 60 for 23% from distance in three recent losses. They hardly bothered shooting 3s against Illinois, going 5 of 12, and won the game by taking the ball inside, scoring 40 points in the paint.
Illinois: The Illini will close the regular season by playing five ranked teams — including Michigan State again — in their last six games. They’ll need to play two good halves to survive the stretch.
Key Moment
Illinois led the entire first half and by as many as 16 points. The Spartans made it a game with a 13-point run, setting the stage for their domination in the second half.
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 15: Kasparas Jakucionis #32 of the Illinois Fighting Illini goes up for a layup against Jaxon Kohler #0 and Szymon Zapala #10 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at State Farm Center on February 15, 202
Key Stat
Michigan State and Illinois each came into the game having outrebounded opponents 21 times and Illinois is the nation’s top rebounding team. But the Spartans outrebounded the Illini 41-36.
What the Illini Said
“Starting with me, I took some very bad shots without touching the paint without creating for others. I think that led us to the loss.” –Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis.
“We’ve got to learn to head ram better, get to the foul line better. When we do that we’re a really good basketball team.” – Illini head coach Brad Underwood.
Up Next
Michigan State will host No. 7 Purdue on Tuesday night while Illinois will play at No. 16 Wisconsin on Tuesday night.
Conclusion
Tom Izzo’s record-breaking win is a testament to his dedication and hard work. The Spartans’ victory is a significant milestone in Izzo’s illustrious career, and it’s a reminder of the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many conference wins does Tom Izzo have?
- 354
- Who did Tom Izzo pass to become the all-time leader in Big Ten conference wins?
- Bobby Knight
- What is the record of Illinois in their last six games?
- 9-7
- Who scored 17 points for Illinois?
- Morez Johnson Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis
