LIVE: FINAL - Michigan State 70, No. 22 Illinois 69

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Welcome to the State Farm Center where No. 22 Illinois (16-7, 8-4 in Big Ten Conference) will host Michigan State (16-8, 8-5).

I'm LOOKING LIVE...at the State Farm Center floor in Champaign, Ill., as we're about an hour from the opening tip.

NOTE: Please join us as we live-blog and discuss the Illini exhibition game here in our weekly Illini Gameday Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top right of the redesigned site and click the follow button.

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Game 24: Michigan State at No. 22 Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020: 8 p.m. CST, State Farm Center, Champaign, Ill.

Capacity: 15,544

Records: Illinois 16-7, 8-4 in Big Ten; 12-21, 7-13 in Big Ten Conference in 2018-19. Michigan State 16-8, 8-5 in Big Ten; 32-7, 16-4 in Big Ten Conference in 2018-19.

Line: Michigan State by 1.5

Series notes: Michigan State leads 62-60. MSU leads just 17-15 dating back to 2001, and Illinois is just 7-8 against MSU over the last 15 games. The road team has had its share of success in this series as well. Since 2002, Illinois has been victorious five times in East Lansing – including consecutive wins in 2014 and 2015 – while Michigan State has recorded six wins in Champaign. Illinois defeated No. 9 Michigan State last season in Champaign during an ‘Orange Out’ to record its first win over a top-10 team in six seasons.

TV: ESPN - Rece Davis (PBP), Dan Dakich (Analyst), Molly McGrath (Sideline)

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Deon Thomas (analyst) - The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, Sirius/XM 105 and at FightingIllini.com.

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Two Key Numbers For Tonight's Game:

9.2 - Illinois ranks third in the NCAA in rebound margin at plus-9.2 trailing only Houston and UC Irvine. Illinois has outrebounded its opponent in 17 of 23 games, and 10 times by double digits.

20 - Number of minutes in the first half and so far this season, you'll be able to tell is Michigan State is going to win. Michigan State is 16-0 this season when leading at halftime. Spartans are 0-8 when they're behind after 20 minutes.

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While we wait for pre-game updates, here's a look at the three keys and Matthew Stevens' prediction for tonight's game.

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NOTE: Illini great Deron Williams is on campus today and expected to be in the building tonight.

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Other Big Ten Conference Games Tonight:

No. 13 Penn State at Purdue - LIVE ON BTN NOW

Nebraska at No. 9 Maryland, 7:30 p.m. CST, BTN

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NOTE: Illinois going with the traditional starting lineup (Trent, Ayo, Da'Monte, Giorgi and Kofi). Michigan State going with Cassius Winston, freshman Rocket Watts and a bigger frontcourt in Aaron Henry, Xavier Tillman and Marcus Bingham.

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NOTE: On the 'Orange Out' night, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood going with the orange jacket tonight. Illinois in the orange throwback jerseys (3-1 this season in those). Michigan State in all green.

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ILLINI TIMEOUT - 16:54 left in 1st - Michigan State 8, No. 22 Illinois 0 - Well, that's not the start Underwood wanted and he's forced to take a timeout. Giorgi is benched after he misses two 3-pointers and commits a silly pass leading to a turnover.

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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 15:47 left in 1st - Michigan State 11, No. 22 Illinois 3 - Illinois finally hit a shot (a 3-pointer by Tevian Jones) and then he follows that up by forgetting to guard Xavier Tillman on the perimeter. So, any momentum has died quickly. Michigan State (4 of 7 and 3 of 3 from 3-pointer) is screwing around tonight.

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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 11:47 left in 1st - Michigan State 15, No. 22 Illinois 7 -Michigan State is completely outclassing Illinois in practically every way through eight minutes. Winston already with five points, an assist and a rebound tonight. Big doughnut so far for Ayo, Giorgi and Trent.

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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 6:39 left in 1st - Michigan State 27, No. 22 Illinois 14 -The cold-shooting and finishing continue from the second half of the Maryland game. Illinois is shooting just 5 of 20 from the field tonight. Michigan State is 4 of 7 from 3-point range.

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ILLINI TIMEOUT - 6:01 left in 1st - Michigan State 30, No. 22 Illinois 14 -Give Underwood credit as he burns another timeout but Illinois is getting thoroughly outplayed and outhustled tonight by a team that came in on a 3-game losing streak.

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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 3:18 left in 1st - Michigan State 35, No. 22 Illinois 16 - For the first time this season, Illinois is going under practically all screens. Michigan State is 5 of 9 from 3-pointers. Illinois has six turnovers and six field goals.

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MSU TIMEOUT - 35.4 left in 1st - Michigan State 37, No. 22 Illinois 20 - Illini shooting 26.7 percent from the field and 2 of 7 from the foul line. Worst first half for the Illini since the home loss to Miami (Fla.).

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HALFTIME - Michigan State 37, No. 22 Illinois 20 - Maybe the worst first half for the combination of Trent Frazier, Giorgi Bezhanishvili and Ayo Dosunmu. The trio combined to go 2 of 17 from the field, 0 of 7 from 3-point range and averaged a minus-16 in the plus/minus. MSU was led by Rocket Watts' 14 points.

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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 15:59 left - Michigan State 46, No. 22 Illinois 30 - Illinois comes out without Giorgi and begin making shots while also turning over MSU three times in this first four minutes. Foul line been unkind to both teams (7 of 19 combined).

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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 11:50 left - Michigan State 56, No. 22 Illinois 39 - Any momentum Illinois had from an earlier 11-3 run is gone. Michigan State scores six straight points all on layups and suddenly Illini are in another scoring drought.

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MSU TIMEOUT - 9:30 left - Michigan State 56, No. 22 Illinois 49 - A 10-0 run forces Izzo to stop this game now as Illinois is getting turnovers and transition opportunities immediately afterward. Suddenly, Dosunmu has 13 points and six rebounds.

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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 6:27 left - Michigan State 60, No. 22 Illinois 55 - Ayo Dosunmu has arrived tonight. The sophomore guard has 13 second-half points to led this comeback effort. MSU has six turnovers in this half without Winston, who has four fouls.

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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 3:00 left - Michigan State 64, No. 22 Illinois 63 - Ayo Dosunmu is called for a loose ball foul to get to that stoppage and Brad Underwood completely loses his mind. Illini is 14 of 26 shooting in this half.

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MSU TIMEOUT - 54.7 left - Michigan State 68, No. 22 Illinois 67 - Feliz makes a pair and Izzo wants to talk about this possession. Spartans are 7 of 14 from the foul line tonight...just a thought.

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MSU TIMEOUT - 29.8 left - Michigan State 68, No. 22 Illinois 67 - Winston turns it over and Ayo can't get the layup to fall. Illini get the rebound and Underwood wants to draw something up.

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