EAST LANSING – In a game that extended well beyond regulation, the No. 10 Michigan State Spartans secured an 85-82 overtime victory against the No. 5 Illinois Fighting Illini at the Breslin Center. The win, fueled by a standout performance from guard Jeremy Fears Jr., snapped Illinois’ 12-game winning streak and further solidifies Michigan State’s position in the competitive Big Ten Conference.
The decisive moment came with under two minutes remaining in overtime. With the score tied, Michigan State turned to Fears, who drove to the basket, drew a foul, and converted the and-one play, giving the Spartans a lead they would not relinquish. Fears finished the night with a game-high 26 points and 15 assists, his seventh double-double of the season.
“Kind of taking what they were giving me a little,” Fears said after the game, describing his approach. “That midrange-ish area, some floaters, got some layups, got some pullups, trying to mix it up.”
However, Fears’ performance arrives amidst a backdrop of controversy. Just last week, Michigan coach Dusty May publicly criticized Fears for what he deemed “dangerous” plays, including a potential tripping incident during a game against Michigan. This criticism was followed by a technical foul assessed to Fears in Wednesday’s loss to Minnesota for a reverse groin kick, adding to a growing narrative surrounding his on-court conduct.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo had even considered benching Fears for a portion of the game against Illinois, but ultimately decided against it. Fears responded by shooting 7-for-19 from the floor and a near-perfect 12-for-13 from the free-throw line.
“There’s been a lot going on and I wasn’t able to help my team so I felt bad, that hurt me and I was hurting my team,” Fears admitted. He emphasized the importance of team support, stating, “At the end of the day, without the team, Coach Izzo, the coaches, their support and belief in me kept me grounded. Just understanding that I need the team, the team needs me and it was a bonding moment, I think, it just brought us closer. It was just a distraction that we didn’t need and just being able to come out here and get this win was special.”
The game was not without its contentious moments. Illinois coach Brad Underwood questioned a play in the first half where Fears dished the ball to Jordan Scott while extending his leg, causing Illinois’ David Mirkovic to trip. Officials reviewed the play but did not assess a foul on Fears.
“There was nothing on the trip,” Underwood stated after the review. “They looked at it. It’s always going to be a judgmental thing. He stops and it’s what he does. He was terrific. We didn’t do a very good job of squaring him up, he plays with great speed and pace. … He’s crafty, he’s smart and did a nice job tonight.”
Fears’ recent scrutiny has placed him in a position where every action is magnified. While his talent is undeniable, and he is currently leading the nation in assists with an average of 9.1 per game, maintaining a high level of performance while navigating criticism will be a key challenge moving forward.
“I understand that everything will be magnified so for me, just not even trying to get put in a position like that,” Fears said. “I know it was a basketball play, I wasn’t trying to trip or harm anyone.”
Beyond his scoring and assists, Fears’ impact extended to other facets of the game. Michigan State dominated in fastbreak points, scoring 22 to Illinois’ zero. He played a career-high 42 minutes and 30 seconds, a testament to his importance to the team, especially with the season-ending injury to backup Divine Ugochukwu.
“Jeremy was phenomenal once we got him downhill a little bit,” Izzo said, also praising Fears’ defensive effort. “I thought his attitude and his performance and accepting what he didn’t do right was excellent.”
With Ugochukwu sidelined, Fears anticipates an increased workload. “Who knows?” he said regarding potential playing time. “But I definitely think I need to do my part coming into every game making sure that I’m hydrated and whatnot but I’m willing to do whatever – play two minutes, play 50 minutes to help my team win.”
The victory improves Michigan State’s record to 20-4 overall and 10-3 in the Big Ten, while Illinois falls to 20-4 overall and 11-2 in conference play. The game was a physical, back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading leads throughout the second half and overtime. Senior forward Jaxon Kohler contributed a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds for Michigan State, while freshman forward Jordan Scott and sophomore guard Kur Teng added 10 points each.
