EAST LANSING — The red-hot Michigan State Spartans look to keep their winning ways intact as they prepare for their toughest Big Ten matchup of the season thus far, hosting the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday.
The Spartans continue to roll off victories, even though they have shown some signs of mortality in recent games. Against Penn State this past Wednesday, Michigan State allowed the visitors to get back into the game in the second half, making things inauspiciously close, only winning by five. Yet, it was enough for MSU to extend its win streak to 10 games, maintaining its spot atop the Big Ten, just ahead of rival Michigan.
Jaden Akins continues to lead the pack by averaging 14.2 points per game, the only Spartan averaging double-digits so far this season.
While Illinois has lost a couple of Big Ten games compared to Michigan State, that does not mean they are going to roll over for a good team like the Spartans. After a stunning loss to Northwestern to begin their conference schedule, the Illini have won five of their past six conference games, including wins over a ranked Wisconsin team, before beating up Indiana last Tuesday, beating the Hoosiers by 25 points.
Illinois is fourth in the Big Ten, 1.5 games back of the Spartans.
Since 2000, MSU is 21-19 against Illinois, snapping a four-game losing streak to the Illini in February of last season.
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NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL
#19 Illinois Fighting Illini (13-4, 5-2 B1G) vs. #12 Michigan State Spartans (15-2, 6-0 B1G)
When: Sunday, January 19
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Where: Breslin Center (East Lansing, Mich.)
Channel: CBS
Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream, Paramount+
Check out the NCAA Men’s Basketball rankings here
