Columnist Graham Couch gives his thoughts on Michigan State's performance Wednesday night in a narrow victory over Penn State with three quick takes.

Leading Michigan State (15-2, 6-0 Big Ten) in points, in rebounds and even a little bit in spirit, Fidler paced a precarious win against Penn State (12-6, 2-5). He finished with a season-high 18 points, as well as a team-leading seven rebounds. Most importantly, he finished with a heavy dose of confidence.

No. 12 Michigan State was led by senior forward Frankie Fidler in its win over Penn State on Wednesday. The veteran wing scored a season-high 18 points while grabbing a team-high seven boards.

The 12th-ranked Spartans got nine critical second-half points from Frankie Fidler, and Tre Holloman hit two free throws with 5.4 seconds to play to ice their 80-78 victory over No. 20 Illinois on Sunday afternoon at Breslin Center.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - No. 12 Michigan State men’s basketball battled to the very end with No. 19 Illinois, but it was the Spartans coming out on top with an 80-78 victory. MSU picks up its 11th straight victory and improves to 7-0 in conference play.

Michigan State basketball welcomed in No. 19 Illinois for a massive Big Ten matchup on Sunday afternoon. A back and forth affair between the two teams broke out, in what was a high level college basketball game, but it was the Spartans picking up the quad 1 win, 80-78.