Michigan State Holds Off Illinois in Thriller, 80-78

No. 12 Michigan State (16-2, 7-0 Big Ten) survived a tense game against No. 19 Illinois (13-5, 5-3 Big Ten), winning 80-78 to extend their winning streak to 11 games. Tre Holloman delivered the game-clinching free throws with 5.4 seconds left, giving the Spartans the lead after Illinois’ Kylan Boswell missed a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer.

Illinois’ Struggles:
Illinois was without their top scorer Kasparas Jakucionis for most of the game, which hampered their offense. Despite a strong 19-point performance from Will Riley, the Illini couldn’t find a way to break through Michigan State’s defense.

Memphis Bounces Back With 77-68 Win Over Charlotte

After a tough loss to Temple, No. 18 Memphis (14-4, 4-1 AAC) got back on track with a 77-68 victory over Charlotte (7-12, 0-6 AAC). PJ Haggerty led the way with 18 points, while Tyrese Hunter contributed 15 points and 5 assists. Charlotte fought hard but couldn’t match Memphis’ firepower, with Jaehshon Thomas scoring 18 points for the 49ers. This win keeps Memphis in the hunt for a strong position in the AAC.

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Michigan Outlasts Northwestern 80-76 in Overtime

No. 20 Michigan (14-4, 6-1 Big Ten) had to dig deep to pull out a 80-76 overtime win over Northwestern (11-7, 2-5 Big Ten). Vladislav Goldin was a standout, dropping 31 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Nimari Burnett chipped in 13 points, helping Michigan get past Northwestern, who had a strong effort from Brooks Barnhizer (21 points). The game went to overtime after Matthew Nicholson hit free throws with 14 seconds left, but Michigan’s late-game execution was too much for the Wildcats to handle.

TCU Stuns Baylor With 74-71 Comeback Win

TCU (10-7, 3-3 Big 12) shocked No. 25 Baylor (11-6, 3-3 Big 12) with a 74-71 win in Waco, Texas. Brendan Wenzel hit a clutch 3-pointer with just 6 seconds remaining to give TCU the lead. Ernest Udeh Jr. was a beast on both ends of the floor, finishing with a career-high 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Despite Norchad Omier‘s game-high 20 points for Baylor, TCU’s defense held firm, and Jayden Nunn’s 3-point attempt to tie the game at the buzzer was blocked.

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Key Takeaways

Michigan State continues to look strong in the Big Ten, but Illinois showed they can battle until the end.
Memphis bounced back from their loss and showed their depth in a solid win over Charlotte.
Michigan showed their resolve in overtime, holding off a determined Northwestern team.
TCU delivered a thrilling comeback win over Baylor, proving they can perform under pressure.

What’s Next

The season is heating up with these exciting games, and Michigan State, Memphis, and Michigan are all firmly in the mix as the tournament race intensifies. Baylor and Illinois will need to regroup after tough losses and find their rhythm again. Expect more drama and surprises as the season unfolds!