Illinois Basketball Falls to Michigan State in Overtime Thriller

Illini's 12-game winning streak snapped in hard-fought 85-82 loss to Spartans

Feb. 7, 2026 at 10:55pm

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The Illinois basketball team's 12-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday night, as they fell to Michigan State 85-82 in overtime in a hard-fought battle in East Lansing. Despite multiple clutch plays late to force overtime, the Illini were ultimately unable to overcome the Spartans, who were led by a dominant performance from point guard Jeremy Fears Jr.

Why it matters

This loss is a tough blow for Illinois, as it knocks them out of sole possession of first place in the Big Ten standings. The Illini had been surging and looked poised to capture the conference title, but this defeat at the hands of their rival Spartans puts a dent in those plans. The game also highlighted some of Illinois' weaknesses, as they were outrebounded and outmuscled by Michigan State's physicality.

The details

Illinois battled throughout the game, with several key plays late to force overtime, including a running layup by David Mirkovic in the final seconds of regulation and a game-tying three-pointer by Tomislav Ivisic in OT. However, Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. took over, scoring 26 points and dishing out 15 assists to lead the Spartans. The Illini were unable to overcome an off night from Keaton Wagler, who shot just 2-for-16 from the field.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 8, 2026 in East Lansing, Michigan.

The players

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Michigan State's starting point guard, who had a dominant performance with 26 points and 15 assists.

David Mirkovic

Illinois guard who hit a clutch running layup in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime.

Tomislav Ivisic

Illinois forward who hit a game-tying three-pointer in overtime to keep the Illini in the game.

Keaton Wagler

Illinois guard who struggled mightily, shooting just 2-for-16 from the field.

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What they’re saying

“We must give Michigan State credit, they really outmuscled us tonight and made the plays when it counted most.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

What’s next

Illinois will look to bounce back quickly as they return home to face Purdue on Wednesday. Michigan State, meanwhile, has put themselves firmly back in the Big Ten title race with this key home win.

The takeaway

This loss is a tough one for Illinois, as it snaps their impressive 12-game winning streak and puts a dent in their Big Ten title hopes. However, the Illini showed a lot of fight and resilience, and this game should serve as a learning experience as they look to regroup and make a strong push down the stretch.