The Spartans' win over Illinois bought breathing room against one of the Big Ten's most dangerous title contenders.

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.

Alums, media and others across the college basketball landscape sounded off on the Spartans' win over the Illini

MSU, which is ranked No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, is coming off a 90-85 victory over Penn State on Jan. 15 in East Lansing. Illinois (13-4, 5-2 Big Ten) is ranked No. 20 in the Coaches Poll and is coming off a 94-69 win over Indiana in its most recent game on Jan. 11.

Underwood is referring to Kasparas Jakucionis, who fouled out in just nine minutes. ‘Truthfully I thought the game was the free throw line. You can’t go on the road and miss ten free throws.’ ‘…A team that I thought guarded exceptionally well… they took our three-ball away.’

Columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on MSU's performance in an 80-78 win over Illinois on Sunday afternoon with three quick takes.

The most significant matchup of the early Big Ten season also proved to be its best, as No. 12 Michigan State outdueled, outlasted or maybe just survived a slugfest with No. 19 Illinois, hanging on for an 80-78 win Sunday at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.