Turning point, unsung hero in Michigan State basketball's win over Illinois

TURNING POINT

The Michigan State men's basketball team put together an impressive first half in holding fourth-ranked Illinois to 24 percent shooting and taking a 10-point lead into the break.

But the Spartans' upset win Tuesday night at Breslin Center was set up by a four-minute stretch early in the second half. 

It looked like the Fighting Illini might make a run following a Kofi Cockburn bucket with 17:44 left in the game that cut the Spartans' lead to 40-31. But MSU responded with a 9-0 run that extended the lead to 18 points, 49-31, with 14:02 left. 

Joshua Langford's lay-up started the run, followed by a Rocket Watts free throw, two Aaron Henry free throws, a Watts steal and layup, and concluded with a Henry jumper. 

Langford (15 points, 16 rebounds) finished with a double-double, and Henry led the Spartans with 20 points. 

Illinois trimmed the deficit to nine points a couple of times in the final four minutes, but couldn't get any closer. Michigan State went on to win, 81-72.

UNSUNG HERO

Michigan State center Marcus Bingham Jr. didn't get the start (the honors went to Julius Marble), but the junior put in one of his better and important performances of the season, considering the Illini's No. 4 rankings and the Spartans' attempt to get back into the NCAA tournament conversation. 

Bingham finished with seven points, two rebounds and – most importantly – three blocks in helping MSU's four-headed attack at center mostly contain Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn. The highlight for Bingham was a second-half block on a Cockburn dunk attempt that came during the Spartans' game-changing run.

Cockburn finished with 13 points but was 3 of 11 from the free-throw line. Bingham was the only center to finish the game for MSU, as Marble and Thomas Kithier fouled out within 13 seconds of each other and Mady Sissoko was ejected after a Flagrant 2 foul.

GRAHAM COUCH:3 quick takes on Michigan State's eye-opening 81-72 win over Illinois

GAME STORY: Michigan State basketball pulls off much-needed upset, beats No. 4 Illinois, 81-72

QUOTABLE

"Give Michigan State credit. They were alert (defensively). ... There's some good help, some collapsing defense. The majority of shots were contested by Michigan State. This (performance) is about a razor-sharp Michigan State team."

- FS1 studio analyst Steve Lavin at halftime, after MSU held Illinois to 24 percent shooting. The Spartans' defensive effort carried over into the second half in beating the Fighting Illini.

WHAT'S NEXT

Michigan State (12-9, 6-9 Big Ten) is scheduled to play at home Thursday against No. 5 Ohio State (18-5, 12-5 B1G). This will be their second meeting of the season, as the Buckeyes defeated the Spartans, 79-62, back on Jan. 31. The Spartans lead the all-time series, 77-60, and have won four of the last five games.

Email digital sports reporter Phil Friend at pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.