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.

Facing its toughest test of the conference season Sunday, the No. 12 Michigan State men’s basketball team (16-2, 7-0 Big Ten) won a tightly contested game against No. 19 Illinois, 80-78 at Breslin Center. Taking advantage of foul trouble and making a number of finishes under contact and pressure, the Spartans remain atop the Big Ten standings.

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