Carr's performance was much appreciated, given the team's leading scorer, Jaden Akins, was held in check with only eight points (3-of-10 FG).

The Fighting Illini suffered their second loss in their last three games. Freshman forward Will Riley led the team with 19 points off the bench. Illinois was only 5-of-24 (20.8 percent) from long range, while its leading scorer this season, freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis, had a season-low three points and fouled out of the game. Illinois needs Jakucionis to stay out of foul trouble going forward, especially in tighter games when his production is counted on.

Illinois (13-5, 5-3 Big Ten) returns home for a pair of games against Maryland on Thursday and Northwestern next Sunday.

Michigan State made 21 of its 27 free-throw attempts on Sunday. That should come as no surprise, given the Spartans are fourth in the country in free-throw percentage (81.6 percent), per TeamRankings . As Michigan State (16-2, 7-0 Big Ten) tries to maintain its unbeaten start to league play against Rutgers on Saturday, getting to the foul line should be a focal point for one of the best teams at the charity stripe.