Tweetcap: Michigan State took control in the second half, win 87-74 over Illini

The #Illini are finally back at @StateFarmCenter to take on 6th ranked #Sparty. Busting out the orange uniforms for this one. pic.twitter.com/JxAzE1veqy

— Erich Fisher (@ETFisher24) January 23, 2018

#Illini starting 5️⃣

G @_Trentfrazier1
G @Mark_Smith_13
G @Mark_Alstork
F Leron Black
F @Finke_Michael

8:12 CT tip on @FS1 pic.twitter.com/yxRYwEHyyu

— Illini Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 23, 2018

Leron's undead spirit shall finish the game in his stead pic.twitter.com/ILnmrHXw2v

— IllinoisLoyalty (@IllinoisLoyalty) January 23, 2018

New look for @LovieSmith at tonight's @IlliniMBB game. #ILLINI pic.twitter.com/zPLyZJTm7T

— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) January 23, 2018

#Illini not as big, not as strong and not as skilled. But through 10 minutes they're battling their butts off and trail Sparty 20-19, 9:56.

— Mark Tupper (@MarkTupper) January 23, 2018

Bridges just can't be contained.. 15 points. 6-6 from the field. MSU is shooting nearly 79 percent... And Illinois is down one.

— Derek Piper (@DPiper247) January 23, 2018

THIS WAS THE BEST PLAY EVER pic.twitter.com/ze8IGVdbUD

— Illini Barstool (@BarstoolILL) January 23, 2018

Finke coming out and playing very aggressive so far, has 7 points early on here. #Illini

— Erich Fisher (@ETFisher24) January 23, 2018

MSU 33, #Illini 28 | 3:59 1H

Finke 7 pts
Black 6 pts
Frazier 4 pts

FG%: ILL 50, MSU 77
3FG: ILL 4-12, 2-3
FG: ILL 0-0, MSU 5-7

@FS1
https://t.co/TNgMvVl0P9
https://t.co/VHc4pFARDY
https://t.co/knrW7YuTLP

— Illini Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 23, 2018

HALFTIME: Michigan State 39, Illinois 32 ... #Illini force 15 turnovers but #Sparty shoots 79 percent when it can hang on to the ball.

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) January 23, 2018

Halftime. pic.twitter.com/MrqNy1Xtk3

— Illini Stats & Notes (@IlliniStats) January 23, 2018

Bridges has his THIRD alley-oop dunk.

Bridges has 19 pts and is still shooting a perfect game.

MSU leads by 12. #Illini

— Orri Benatar (@obenatar512) January 23, 2018

Turns out that if you stop forcing turnovers, but allow your opponent to continue shooting 75%, you’re gonna fall further behind.

— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) January 23, 2018

#Illini in trouble without Leron Black in the game. He has made 6 of 8 shots, leads with 12 points, but sits with 4 fouls.

— Mark Tupper (@MarkTupper) January 23, 2018

Jackson Jr. on that last drive. #Sparty pic.twitter.com/kCIF7bJtwC

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) January 23, 2018

Kipper! pic.twitter.com/GB81mFbkQT

— IllinoisLoyalty (@IllinoisLoyalty) January 23, 2018

Rebounds: Michigan State 28, Illinois 10.

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) January 23, 2018

Kipper Nichols notches a career-high 19 points with that corner three. #Illini

— Erich Fisher (@ETFisher24) January 23, 2018

Kipper showing some fight. He's got a career-high 19 points (6-10 FG, 3-5 3FG, 4-4 FT).

MSU 71, #Illini 57 | 5;56 2H

— Illini Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 23, 2018

What Jaren Jackson just did... Rebound, coast to coast, flush.

— Derek Piper (@DPiper247) January 23, 2018

Leron Black has 0 rebounds. That hasn't happened since November 2015, against Providence, when he played 4 minutes

— Brian Binz (@binzy_20) January 23, 2018

Michigan State is scoring on 55.6 percent of its possessions and turning it over on another 34.9 percent. There's literally almost no middle ground. Spartans lead #Illini 77-60 with 3:07 to play.

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) January 23, 2018

Seats emptying at SFC.

Michigan State dominated in the 2nd Half. #Illini

— Orri Benatar (@obenatar512) January 23, 2018

Nichols is actually dunking the ball now! #Illini find themselves down 77-67 with 1:31 remaining in the game.

— Erich Fisher (@ETFisher24) January 23, 2018

No quit. #ILLINI pic.twitter.com/JVCqWxDyQ8

— Illini Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 23, 2018

Kipper! pic.twitter.com/h4tOfXOar4

— IllinoisLoyalty (@IllinoisLoyalty) January 23, 2018

The #Illini put up a valiant effort tonight against the Spartans, fall 87-74. Mainly due to the Nichols pouring in a career-high 27 points. But, MSU proved too much to handle as Bridges poured in 30 points of his own.

— Erich Fisher (@ETFisher24) January 23, 2018

Final#ILLINI pic.twitter.com/jMIiW9V9P6

— Illini Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 23, 2018