EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — Jeremy Fears scored 26 points and Michigan State outlasted Illinois 85-82 in overtime Saturday in a Big Ten men’s basketball clash at Breslin Center.

The Spartans, also ranked 20th, improved to 20-4, matching the Fighting Illini’s record. Fears added 15 assists, guiding Michigan State to 22 fastbreak points. Illinois, which got 18 points from David Mirkovic, led 39-35 at halftime but was outscored 14-11 in the extra period. The Spartans shot 20 of 23 from the free-throw line, including four clutch makes by Fears in the final 21 seconds of overtime to seal the win before a crowd of 14,797.