PREVIEW
OPENING TIP: Illinois (2-6, 0-5 B1G) continues Big Ten Play on Thursday, hosting RV/RV Michigan State (8-2, 3-2 B1G) at State Farm Center. Tipoff between the Illini and the Spartans is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus with Scott Sudikoff (play-by-play) and Scott Beatty (analyst) Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on WDWS 1400 AM. Streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com.
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE: Michigan State enters Thursday's game with an 8-2 overall record, including 3-2 start to Big Ten play. Most recently, the Spartans, who are receiving top-25 votes, lost back-to-back home games vs. then-No. 12/12 Maryland (93-87) and Nebraska (68-64). Junior G Nia Clouden, who has tallied more than 1,000 points in her MSU career, paces the Spartans' offensive attack at 19.9 points per game. Clouden is one of three MSU players averaging double-figures scoring alongside the sophomore guard duo of Alysa Winston (13..4 ppg) Julia Ayrault (11.2 ppg). Sophomore F Taiyier Parks is the team's top rebounder at boards per contest, just ahead of Ayrault (6.0 rpg). The Spartans average 80.3 points per game, while holding opponents to 66.0 per contest. Michigan State ranks among the NCAA leaders in several categories including No. 3 in assists per game (21.0), No. 5 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.62), No. 27 in turnovers per game (13.0) and turnover margin (+5.5), No. 28 in scoring offense (80.3 ppg) and No. 33 in field-goal percentage (.460).Â
SERIES VS. MICHIGAN STATE:Â Sunday's matchup is the 73rd in the series between the Illini and the Spartans. Michigan State leads the all-time series, 44-28, including an 18-15 advantage in games played in Champaign. The Illini are looking to snap an eight-game MSU win streak in the series. The last Illini win the series was Jan. 23, 2014, a 61-51 victory at in East Lansing. Illinois' last home win in the series came Feb. 2, 2007 (56-46).
UP NEXT: The Fighting Illini travel north to Evanston, Illinois, for a Thursday-night matchup at No. 22/23-ranked Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Jan. 21.Tipoff between the Illini and the Wildcats (6-2, 4-1 B1G) - who play at Rutgers (Jan. .14) and at Penn State (Jan. 17) - is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus. Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on WDWS 1400 AM. Streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com.Â
FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)
