Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Michigan State

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 05: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood talks with Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andres Feliz (10) during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 5, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Illinois basketball team took down another top 15 team on Tuesday night when they sent No. 9 Michigan State home with a loss.

This game was in the hands of the Illini from the start. They started the game scoring the ball well. By the 15-minute mark in the first half, Illinois had the lead 13-7 over the Spartans. Michigan State did fight back some and was able to get the score back to 21-18 with 10 minutes to go in the first half.

Illinois started to widen the gap, though. They started scoring at-will and increased their lead to 31-23 with five minutes left until halftime. Xavier Tillman’s dunk was the last score of the half, and Illinois went into the locker room with a 41-32 lead.

The Illini held their solid lead to start the second half. They were still up 10 points with 15 minutes to go in the game. That lead held until Michigan State went on a run and, eventually, took the lead 64-63 with 6:21 to go in the game. Illinois wasn’t having any part of that, though. Ayo Dosunmu hit two big three-pointers which got the lead back to six points for the Illini. Illinois would hold onto that lead and come out victorious over the Spartans, 79-74.

Here are five observations from the Illini win over Michigan State.

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