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17 points from Tre Holloman leads the way in #12 Michigan State’s win over #19 Illinois

On a Sunday filled with NFL Playoffs action, just one college basketball game really made headlines on Sunday afternoon. Two top 20 teams met inside the Breslin Center, with Illinois taking on Michigan State inside a great atmosphere with students back on campus in East Lansing.

The story of the game would no doubt be the nine-minute, five-foul performance from Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois’s leader in scoring and assists. While you can skepticize most of the five foul calls, I think the only one you can really question was the fourth, where Jakucionis is whistled for a foul while being knocked to the floor. Without KJ on the floor, Illinois had to rely on others to score and create, while Michigan State now had the advantage in the backcourt.

For the Spartans, it was Tre Holloman, the man whose insertion into the starting lineup started this now 11-game winning streak, who came up with a big-time performance. Holloman finished with 17 points, going 5-9 from the field and hitting seven of his eight free throw attempts. Holloman’s impact on both sides of the ball, especially his defensive capabilities and the pressure he takes off Jeremy Fears Jr. as a creator have helped Michigan State figure things out. Off the bench, Frankie Fidler and Coen Carr made timely plays, both finishing with 11 points.

For Illinois, Will Riley was the guy in the first half, scoring 16 points in the game’s opening 12 minutes. Riley would cool off as he became the focus of Michigan State’s defense, but the freshman still finished with a team-high 19 points.

The turning point of this game came on Jakucionis’ fifth foul, as after he subbed into the game at the under-eight media timeout and converted an and-one and dished an assist to Tomislav Ivisic, he ran into Fidler from behind on a shot attempt from the right elbow. Sparty went on an 8-3 run following the whistle and wouldn’t trail the rest of the way.

Holloman’s final two free throws swished through with five seconds left, and Michigan State fouled to not allow Illinois a chance to tie the game from three. The score would go final at 80-78, keeping Michigan State perfect in the Big Ten at 7-0.

This was the first big game for Tom Izzo’s squad, who will have a three-game stretch in mid-February that should decide the season. On February 15, Michigan State travels to Illinois for a rematch. Three days later, the Spartans host Purdue before going across the state to take on Michigan at the Crisler Center on February 21.

It may not have been pretty inside the Breslin Center, but Michigan State found a way to win, and that’s what good teams to do. Until they drop a game, the Spartans will be the team to beat in the Big Ten.

Other Things to Note:

• Vlad Goldin goes for 31 as #20 Michigan survives 80-76 in overtime against Northwestern
• Brendan Wenzel sinks game-winning three as TCU stuns #25 Baylor 74-71
• #18 Memphis wins 77-68 at Charlotte behind 18 points from PJ Haggerty
• Green Bay loses 15th straight game after late collapse against Youngstown State
• Villanova hosts Georgetown at the Finn in critical Big East matchup (6:00 ET, FS1)