By Jeysla Gonzalez
2/15/2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 11 Michigan State used a 15-0 run over the final six-plus minutes and came back from a 16-point deficit to beat Illinois, 79-65, at State Farm Center on Saturday night.
The win was the 354th Big Ten Conference victory for Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo, passing former Indiana coach Bob Knight for the most conference wins in league history.
Junior forward Jaxon Kohler scored a career-high 23 points and had 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season, leading four players in double figures.
Records
Michigan State improves to 20-5 overall and 11-3 in the Big Ten Conference, while Illinois falls to 17-9 overall and 9-7 in league play.
Notes
- Michigan State leads the all-time series with Illinois, 67-64, and has won the last three meetings.
- The Spartans are now 22-42 in games played at Illinois.
- The win snapped a three-game losing streak at State Farm Center and was MSU’s first win since Feb. 11, 2020, when a Xavier Tillman put-back gave the Spartans a 70-69 win.
- Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo is 30-22 all-time against Illinois.
- Izzo’s career record is now 727-300.
- Izzo is now 354-173 all-time in the Big Ten and moved past former Indiana coach Bob Knight for the all-time lead in conference wins.
- Michigan State is now 6-2 on the road, including a 5-2 record in Big Ten games.
- The 5 conference road wins are the most since the 2019-20 team had 6 wins away from home.
Up Next
Michigan State returns home to the Breslin Center to host Purdue on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The game tips off at 7 p.m. (Peacock), with Noah Eagle and Robbie Hummel calling all of the action.
COURTESY MICHIGAN STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
