Illinois Basketball: 3 observations from the Illini falling to Michigan State

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 11: Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) and Michigan State Spartans forward Aaron Henry (11) battle for a loose ball during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 11, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Illinois basketball team had one of their classic comeback games on Tuesday night only to fall just short against Michigan State.

Do you want to see one of the worst starts in program history? Check out the first half for the Illini against the Spartans. We were able to dig into an 8-0 hole less than four minutes into the game. The first double-digit lead for Michigan State happened at the 11:30 mark in the first half when they took the lead 17-7.

Michigan State’s lead would only increase from there. They managed to increase the lead to 19 points with 3:46 left in the first half. Illinois did start to show some signs of life toward the end of the first half as they were able to get the deficit back down to 17 points by halftime.

When the Spartans came out in the second half and snagged a 20-point lead on multiple occasions, the outlook for the Illini seemed bleak. But, in true Illini fashion, this game wasn’t over.

Illinois narrowed the deficit to 14 points with 15 minutes to go in the game. With 9:53 to go in the game, the Illini had cut the lead down to nine points. And with less than five minutes left, somehow the Orange and Blue had a one-point lead over Michigan State. Sadly, the Spartans were able to make a bucket on their last possession to win the game 70-69.

Here are three observations from the Illini loss to Michigan State.

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