CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois fell to No. 11 Michigan State, 79-65, on Saturday night in the State Farm Center.
The Illini led by as many as 16 points in the contest, and held a 14-point lead, 35-21, at the 6:17 mark of the first half. But Michigan State closed the first half on a 16-6 run to pull to within four points at halftime.
Neither team led by more than four in a back-and-forth battle throughout the first 13 minutes of the second half. After a Ben Humrichous jumper gave the Illini a 65-64 edge with 8:29 to play, the Illini missed their final 19 shots, and Michigan State closed the game on a 15-0 run to seal the win.
Freshmen Morez Johnson Jr. and Kasparis Jakucionis led Illinois in scoring with 17 points each. They also grabbed five rebounds each. Classmate Will Riley added 13 points and led the Illini with seven rebounds and six assists. Tomislav Ivisic also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Jake Davis scored eight points off the bench for the Illini on 3-for-6 shooting from the floor.
Illinois hits the road on Tuesday to take on No. 16 Wisconsin at Kohl Center at 7:30 p.m. CT (FS1).
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
- Kasparas Jakucionis tied for the team lead with 17 points and added five rebounds.
- Scored in double figures for the team-leading 19th time this season
- Has 10+ points in three straight games and in six of the last eight.
- Knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the third-straight games and in 13 games overall this season.
- Morez Johnson Jr. tied for the team lead with 17 points and added five rebounds.
- Scored in double figures for the seventh time this season.
- Went 6-for-8 from the floor, making his first 6 attempts.
- Recorded multiple blocked shots for the eighth time this season.
- Will Riley posted 13 points and led the team with seven rebounds and six assists.
- Scored in double figures for the six-straight game and for the 16th time this season.
- Knocked down at least three 3-pointers for the sixth time this season.
- Grabbed at least seven rebounds for the fifth time this season.
- Dished out at least six assists for the fourth time this season and for the third time in the last four games.
- Tomislav Ivisic tied for the team high with seven rebounds.
- Ben Humrichous recorded six points and six rebounds
- His 12th game this season with five or more boards.
- Jake Davis tallied eight points in a reserve role for the Illini.
- Went 2-for-5 from the 3-point line.
- Fourth game this season with multiple makes from deep
Team Notes:
- Starting lineup: Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, Tomislav Ivisic, Kasparas Jakucionis, Morez Johnson Jr.
- The loss snaps a three-game win streak for the Illini vs. Michigan State at State Farm Center.
- Illinois was outrebounded, 41-36. just the fourth game of the season in which the Illini lost the battle of the boards.
- Illinois moves to 7-8 in Quad 1 games and 3-4 vs. top-25 opponents on the season.
- Illinois closes the season with four of its next five games against Quad 1 opponents.
- Saturday's attendance of 15,544 marked the Illini's 10th home sellout of the season (fifth consecutive) at State Farm Center.
- Illinois is averaging 15,031 fans per game, 96.7% capacity.
