Illinois Survives Spartans, Advances to Big Ten Quarterfinals

Illini hold off late Michigan State rally to earn tournament victory

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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In a tightly contested second-round matchup at the Big Ten Tournament, the No. 10 seed Illinois Illini defeated the No. 7 seed Michigan State Spartans 71-69. The Illini leaned on a strong first-half performance from freshman forward Cearah Parchment and just enough defense down the stretch to hold off a late Spartans rally led by guard Kennedy Blair's 30 points.

Why it matters

The win advances Illinois to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, where they will face No. 2 seed Iowa in a rematch of a close regular-season loss. The Illini are looking to avenge that defeat and continue their postseason run, while Michigan State's season comes to an end with the second-round exit.

The details

Illinois opened the game looking out of sync, committing six turnovers in the first three minutes. But Parchment steadied the Illini, scoring 15 first-half points to help Illinois take a 36-29 lead into the break. The Spartans made a push in the second half behind Blair's scoring, but Illinois answered with key contributions from Maddie Webber, Aaliyah Guyton, and Jasmine Brown-Hagger to maintain their advantage. The game came down to a chaotic final minute, with Illinois surviving a late Michigan State surge to secure the victory.

  • Illinois opened the game with six turnovers in the first three minutes.
  • Cearah Parchment scored 15 points in the first half to help Illinois take a 36-29 lead into halftime.
  • Michigan State made a run in the third quarter to briefly take the lead, before Illinois answered to carry a 53-48 advantage into the fourth quarter.
  • Illinois pushed its lead to nine early in the fourth quarter, but Michigan State kept fighting back and cut the deficit to two points in the final minute.
  • With 20 seconds left, Illinois turned the ball over, giving Michigan State a chance to tie or take the lead, but the Illini defense held strong to seal the victory.

The players

Cearah Parchment

A freshman forward for Illinois who scored 15 points in the first half to help the Illini build an early lead.

Kennedy Blair

A guard for Michigan State who scored a game-high 30 points, keeping the Spartans in the game with her second-half scoring outburst.

Maddie Webber

An Illinois player who provided a spark off the bench, scoring 13 points including a key three-pointer.

Jasmine Brown-Hagger

An Illinois player who scored 12 points in the second half, including a crucial three-pointer that swung momentum back to the Illini.

Destiny Jackson

An Illinois player who finished with 14 points and 5 assists, including a clutch layup late to give the Illini some breathing room.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to win these close games, even when we're not playing our best. I'm proud of the team for gutting it out and advancing.”

— Curt Underwood, Illinois Head Coach (Illinois Athletics)

What’s next

Illinois will face No. 2 seed Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday at 5:30 pm CT. The Illini will be looking to avenge a close regular-season loss to the Hawkeyes and continue their postseason run.

The takeaway

Despite an uneven performance, Illinois showed its resilience by holding off a late Michigan State rally to advance in the Big Ten Tournament. The Illini will need to clean up their early turnovers and get more consistent production if they hope to upset Iowa and keep their tournament hopes alive.