Michigan State basketball: Last 3 matchups in Champaign have been classics

Illinois and Michigan State basketball usually play good games in Champaign and Thursday’s contest could be more of the same.

After a disappointing loss to Northwestern on Sunday, Michigan State basketball looks to bounce back in a big way against Illinois.

Heading into Thursday night’s matchup the all-time series between the two basketball powers is nearly dead even. MSU ever so slightly leads the series 64-63.

As the Spartans are tasked with another road test, let’s dive into the last three games they played in Champaign:

Jan. 13, 2023

Most recently, Michigan State traveled to the State Farm Center last season. The Spartans came into the game as 6.5-point underdogs and failed to cover, losing 75-66.

Michigan State just did not seem to click at all during this contest. Despite finishing the season as the third-best 3-point shooting team in the country last year, the Spartans only attempted seven threes. Even worse, they didn’t make a single one. It’s hard to win Big Ten games in general and is even tougher on the road, let alone while not making a single 3-pointer.

Defensively, the Spartans never really got settled. They allowed Dain Dainja whatever he wanted down low, totaling 20 points and seven rebounds. Baylor transfer Matthew Mayer added 19 of his own, and Terrence Shannon Jr. poured in 17.

The Illini caught MSU just before it started to hit its stride down the stretch of the season.

Jan. 25, 2022

Heading another year back on the calendar into 2021-22, Michigan State basketball entered this contest against the Fighting Illini as the No. 10 team in the country. Illinois was ranked 24th.

A horrific first half held the Spartans back in this one. They shot 8-for-27 in the first which came out to a dismal 29.6% and only 20 points. Heading into the break with a 14-point deficit, Tom Izzo and Co. had their work cut out for them in the second half.

However, the second half was much better basketball for MSU. The Spartans guarded better and took advantage of opportunities that were given to them at the free throw line. Izzo’s team battled back, having a possession to tie or take the lead with barely any time left on the clock.

Malik Hall got fouled for two shots. Michigan State was down two with 0.2 seconds remaining — make both free throws and the game would be sent to overtime.

Hall missed the first. The next plan of action is to miss intentionally and hope for a tip-in. Hall made it.

That was the game. Illinois prevailed 56-55, a gut-wrencher for the 10th-ranked Spartans.

Feb. 11, 2020

The earliest trip of the decade to State Farm Center was a classic.

Unranked Michigan State burst out to a 37-20 lead over 22nd-ranked Illinois at halftime. Like the Spartans were tasked with two years down the road, the Illini were fighting an uphill battle going into the second half.

Just like that 2022 MSU squad did, Illinois fought back. The Illini clawed all the way back and ultimately took the lead as a result of two free throws from the Illinois legend Kofi Cockburn with 19.1 seconds remaining.

Down by one, Izzo decided to use his last timeout to draw up a final play. He decided to put the ball in the hands of one of the best to ever wear the green and white, Cassius Winston.

Winston grabbed a pass from Rocket Watts at the top of the key and drove left. Four Illinois defenders hounded Cassius as he neared the rim. He attempted a floaty left-handed layup-type shot that missed the rim and glanced off the backboard.

Seemingly out of nowhere came Xavier Tillman, who rebounded the ball as it was still in the air, and athletically spun to throw down the game-leading dunk. But, there were still 6.6 seconds left for the Illini to respond. With no timeouts left, Ayo Dosunmu slipped and fell, turning the ball over and sealing the fate of the Spartans’ victory.

Here’s a link to the insane dunk:

Cassius Winston with the pass to Xavier Tillman Sr. for the GAME WINNING BUCKET AGAINST ILLINOIS#FavoriteMomentsOfTheSeason

pic.twitter.com/1QKzr0Kdhs

— ˢᵉᵒᵘˡʲᵃᵃ (@Seouljaa) March 17, 2020

Jan. 11, 2024

Coming back to Thursday’s matchup, hopefully Michigan State can snap its mini two-game skid in Champaign. Maybe it will take a heroic effort like Tillman’s in 2020, or maybe a last-second comeback will fall short. Who knows, but it feels like whenever these two matchup it is always a good battle.

Go Green.