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.

Tre Holloman had 17 points, including two free throws in the closing seconds, No. 12 Michigan State held on to beat No. 19 Illinois, 80-78.

Tom Izzo thought Sunday’s game against Illinois had a chance to be an instant classic and one of the best environments the Breslin Center has seen in recent memory. It was that and then some. Michigan State’s toughest test to date in the Big Ten lived up to the hype and