CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Illinois saw its three-game win streak against Michigan State at State Farm Center come to an end Saturday night, falling 79-65 to the 11th-ranked Spartans.
The loss drops the Illini to 17-9 on the season and 9-7 in Big Ten play. Illinois remains 3-4 against top-25 opponents. The team faces a tough stretch to close out the regular season, with four of its final five games coming against Quad 1 opponents.
Saturday’s game drew a packed house, with 15,544 fans marking Illinois’ 10th home sellout of the season, the fifth consecutive sellout. The team is currently averaging 15,031 fans per game, reaching 96.7% of the arena’s capacity.
Key Performances:
- Kasparas Jakucionis led the Illini with 17 points and five rebounds, marking his 19th double-digit effort of the season.
- Morez Johnson Jr. matched Jakucionis with 17 points and five rebounds, making six of his eight field goal attempts.
- Will Riley contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, and a team-high six assists.
- Tomislav Ivisic and Ben Humrichous each pulled down seven rebounds, while Humrichous added six points.
- Jake Davis came off the bench to score eight points, including two three-pointers.
Meanwhile, what was supposed to be a celebratory night for Illinois basketball turned into an awkward moment when Terrence Shannon Jr.’s jersey was mistakenly hung upside down during his halftime retirement ceremony at State Farm Center.
The No. 0 banner was unfurled incorrectly, drawing groans from the crowd during Illinois’ 79-65 loss to Michigan State. Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman later apologized to Shannon, his family, and Illini fans, calling the mistake “regrettable.” The banner was corrected after the game, allowing Shannon to pose with his family and coach Brad Underwood.
Shannon, who played two seasons at Illinois and set the program’s single-season scoring record, was a third-team All-American before being drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024.
