College Basketball Recap: Michigan State Clinches Key Win, Illinois Dominates, Memphis Stays Hot

The college basketball season is heating up as teams battle for conference titles and tournament positioning. Sunday’s action featured big performances, upsets, and statement victories from some of the nation’s top teams.

No. 8 Michigan State 71, No. 11 Wisconsin 62

Michigan State secured a pivotal Big Ten win, extending its winning streak to five games and clinching a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament.

Key Performances:

Jaden Akins: 19 points, 8 rebounds – Led the Spartans’ offense in a crucial win.
Jase Richardson: 11 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds – A strong all-around effort.
Jaxon Kohler: 10 points, 16 rebounds – Controlled the paint for Michigan State.
Frankie Fidler: 9 points, 6 rebounds – Provided key minutes for the Spartans.

Wisconsin’s Top Performers:

John Blackwell: 19 points, 6 rebounds – Kept the Badgers in the game.
John Tonje: 11 points, 6 rebounds
Steven Crowl: 10 points
Nolan Winter: 9 points, 17 rebounds

🔹 What’s Next?

Michigan State (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten) is now tied for first place in the conference and faces No. 15 Michigan next week in a potential title-deciding showdown.
Wisconsin (22-7, 12-6 Big Ten) will look to rebound and strengthen its tournament resume.

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Illinois 93, No. 15 Michigan 73

Illinois dominated the second half to secure a statement victory over Michigan on the road.

Game Highlights:

Tre White: 19 points – Led Illinois in scoring.
Kasparas Jakucionis & Kylan Boswell: 17 points each – Provided offensive firepower.
Will Riley: 13 points – Helped fuel Illinois’ second-half run.

🔹 How Illinois Took Over:

The Fighting Illini struggled from three in the first half (3-for-14) but caught fire in the second half, hitting 8 of their first 17 shots from deep to blow the game open.
They turned a one-point halftime lead into a 20-point victory.

Michigan’s Standout:

Vladislav Goldin: 22 points, 7 rebounds – One of the few bright spots for the Wolverines.

🔹 Impact on the Big Ten Race:

Michigan (22-7, 14-4 Big Ten) falls a game behind Michigan State with two games left.
Illinois (19-11, 11-8 Big Ten) strengthens its NCAA Tournament seeding.

No. 18 Memphis 88, UAB 81

Memphis took a big step toward the AAC regular-season title, outlasting UAB in Birmingham.

Top Performers for Memphis:

PJ Haggerty: 25 points – Game-high scorer.
Dain Dainja: 16 points, 17 rebounds – A dominant double-double.
Colby Rogers: 21 points (5 three-pointers) – Key perimeter threat.
Tyrese Hunter: 11 points – Solid contribution.

🔹 How Memphis Won:

The Tigers extended their lead in the AAC standings to 1.5 games over North Texas.
Dainja controlled the boards, helping Memphis outmuscle UAB inside.

UAB’s Effort:

Ja’Borri McGhee: 22 points – Led the Blazers’ scoring.
Christian Coleman: 14 points, 9 rebounds
Bradley Ezewiro: 12 points off the bench

🔹 What’s Next?

Memphis (24-5, 14-2 AAC) looks to lock up the AAC title in its final two games.
UAB (19-10, 12-4 AAC) will need a strong finish to solidify its tournament hopes.

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Key Takeaways from Sunday’s Action:

Michigan State stays in control of the Big Ten race after a crucial win.
Illinois delivers a statement victory over Michigan with a dominant second-half performance.
Memphis takes a major step toward the AAC title, proving its tournament potential.

With conference tournaments around the corner, every game matters. Stay tuned for more NCAA basketball updates as teams fight for seeding, titles, and March Madness spots!