The Michigan State Spartans came out victorious at home on Sunday afternoon over a very good Illinois Fighting Illini team behind a complete team effort from the entire Spartan roster.

Tom Izzo managed to beat his old friend Brad Underwood on Sunday as Michigan State basketball held on to beat Illinois at home. It was a tough, grind-it-out win over Illinois as the Spartans struggled to hit shots, but they did outperform Illinois at the free throw line and that was ultimately the difference.

An incensed Tom Izzo called Michigan State basketball's second-half defensive issues "a problem" after surviving Penn State for a 10th straight win.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo had high praise for the Spartans' next opponent, the Illinois Fighting Illini.

No. 12 Michigan State is heading into what will likely be its toughest conference game yet when it hosts No. 19 Illinois on Sunday.

Izzo is taking the threat of the Illini seriously as he prepares his Spartans for Sunday's matchup in East Lansing

Tom Izzo said No. 12 Michigan State basketball must defend better Sunday against No. 20 Illinois on Sunday despite the Spartans' offensive upturn.

Ben Johnson’s basketball team took a big step in their last game, beating then-No. 20 Michigan in overtime, 84-81, last Wednesday at Williams Arena. It was the Gophers’ first Big Ten win and pulled them to .500 overall. The goal now is to keep moving forward.

The No. 8 Michigan State Spartans (16-2, 7-0) made a big statement this past weekend and were rewarded for it in the Associated Press national rankings to start

Grant Nelson erupted for 25 points and Mark Sears added 24 as the Crimson Tide (15-3 overall, 4-1 SEC) defeated the Kentucky Wildcats, 102-97, at Rupp Arena. Alabama’s victory came four days after an ugly 74-64 loss to the Ole Miss Rebels at Coleman Coliseum.

Michigan State basketball continues to march toward Tom Izzo's 27th straight NCAA tournament bid. Here's where Spartans stand in bracket projections.