The final seconds of regulation in Michigan State’s win over Illinois were a whirlwind. A missed Kur Teng three, an offensive rebound in a crowd of Illini by Jaxon Kohler, and a re-attempted three by Teng on the wing gave Michigan State a 2-point lead, 71-69, with 8.5 seconds left.
Teng’s 3-pointer looked like it was going to be the dagger, but Illinois had time to go down, snag an offensive rebound on a missed three, and a foul on a put-back attempt led to a tie ballgame with a second left. Unfortunately, things went to overtime, but Teng was still one of the heroes for getting Michigan State there in the first place.
While that wasn’t the game-winner, it felt like one in the moment, sending the Breslin Center crowd into a frenzy.
We’ve already seen several angles of the big shot, but one sticks out to me as my favorite.
Jacob Cotsonika of SI.com posted an incredible angle taken from the press area off the concourse and it gives a better view of the crowd’s reaction as well as the bench.
Electric.
Kur Teng. pic.twitter.com/U0EycG7TON
— Jacob Cotsonika (@jacobcotsonika) February 8, 2026
Teng’s shot had the entire crowd on its feet and the Izzone nearly blew the roof off the Breslin Center. Getting two really good looks at a three in the final 15 seconds is rare, but Teng made sure not to take it for granted because it was probably the most open he’s been in conference play.
Seeing the crowd erupt from this angle is special.
This Michigan State team has a clutch gene
From the Arkansas game to the Penn State win to the Rutgers comeback, and then again on Saturday night against Illinois, this Michigan State team has been more clutch than people give it credit for.
Michigan State was able to hold on with clutch play after clutch play against Arkansas, then Divine Ugochukwu hit some massive shots to give the Spartans a win in Happy Valley, and both Jeremy Fears and Ugochukwu (again) were huge in the final seconds of regulation and overtime vs. Rutgers.
On Saturday, it was Teng’s time to step up. He didn’t flinch and hit the biggest shot of the season.
Clutch.