No. 12 Michigan State plays host to No. 19 Illinois on CBS in a Sunday matchup of two of the top contenders to win the Big Ten. Michigan State entered the weekend as the lone team

Despite strong performances from Kendall Bostic and the bench, Illinois struggled against Michigan State’s press in a tough 80-78 loss in East Lansing.

The Spartans' 7-0 start in Big Ten play is their best since the 2018-19 season when they last played in the Final Four.

MSU, which is ranked No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, is coming off a 90-85 victory over Penn State on Jan. 15 in East Lansing. Illinois (13-4, 5-2 Big Ten) is ranked No. 20 in the Coaches Poll and is coming off a 94-69 win over Indiana in its most recent game on Jan. 11.

Tre Holloman had 17 points, Coen Carr and Frankie Fidler scored 11 each and No. 12 Michigan State held on to beat No. 19 Illinois 80-78.

Illinois faces Michigan State. Our college basketball odds series has our Illinois Michigan State prediction, odds and pick for Sunday.

It's Brad Underwood and Illinois vs Tom Izzo and Michigan State in a college basketball Big Ten game. Here's how to watch and stream.

Tre Holloman scored 17 points to lead No. 12 Michigan State to an 80-78 win over No. 19 Illinois on Sunday in East Lansing, Mich. Frankie Fidler and Coen Carr

The Spartans' three-point percentage of 28.7 ranks worst in the Big Ten and near the bottom of all Division I teams. Defensively, the Illini prefer to run teams off the line, but given MSU’s hesitancy to shoot the deep ball in the first place, it seems Illinois’ style of defense may work in its opponents favor.

#19 Illinois men's will travel to East Lansing to take on #12 Michigan State, while the women will be home against #22 Michigan State. For the men the last time they face the Spartans they lost 88-80 in East Lansing and Brad Underwood is currently 5-6 against Michigan State and Tom Izzo.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - No. 12 Michigan State men’s basketball battled to the very end with No. 19 Illinois, but it was the Spartans coming out on top with an 80-78 victory. MSU picks up its 11th straight victory and improves to 7-0 in conference play.

The No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini (13-4, 5-2 Big Ten) meet the No. 12 Michigan State Spartans (15-2, 6-0) Sunday. Tip-off from Breslin Center in East Lansing is set for noon ET (CBS). Let’s analyze