EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State needed it, and it got it.

The 10th-ranked Spartans took down No. 5 Illinois, 85-82 in overtime, on Saturday night in an absolute thriller. This snaps a mild, two-game skid for MSU, gives it a huge resume victory, and keeps itself alive in the Big Ten title race.

Point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. led the way for Michigan State, dropping 26 points and 15 assists. He seemed to have the ball the whole time later on in the second half and overtime and never showed any fatigue, despite playing 42 minutes.

This moves MSU to 20-4 overall and 10-3 during Big Ten play. The Spartans’ next game is at Wisconsin on Friday.

First Half

The first 20 minutes were tightly contested. Neither team got to enjoy a lead larger than six points, as both teams seemed to go bucket for bucket for most of the first half.

What made the difference early on is that Illinois’ spacing was better. The Fighting Illini didn’t shoot it very well in the first half, but their ability to stretch out the Spartans’ defense opened up some opportunities on second chances and inside the arc.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The first Bojangles in Michigan opened recently, bringing first-time features alongside esteemed chicken, biscuits and sweet tea.

The “biscuit theater” is a staple at recent additions to the North Carolina-based chicken chain, but the newest location at 1730 28th St. SW in Wyoming, Mich. is one-of-a-kind.

While other theaters sit adjacent to the kitchen, the new location’s window gives indulging customers direct view of biscuit making, showcasing the brand’s commitment to fresh and made-from-scratch biscuits.

The entire process, from rolling the dough to buttering the golden crust, plays out for a captive audience.

“We had corporate come through, and they thought it was an awesome innovation for our customers,” said Mike Thorp, director of operations at Meritage Hospitality Group, which operates the Wyoming franchise.

“Hot biscuits!” is heard every 20 minutes. The regular refrain comes from the restaurant’s biscuit specialists as they make their way to the assembly line.

The biscuits are featured throughout the menu. There’s the breakfast sandwiches and southern gravy. The family meals, starting at $38.99, come with biscuits to pair with hand-breaded chicken tenders.

Bojangles’ Bo-Berry Biscuit, which costs $2.99 for two, has become a Southern staple. It’s the classic buttermilk base with blueberries inside topped with a sweet icing for an extra $0.50.

Thorp promises a freshness and quality that’s not always guaranteed at fast casual spots.

While Bojangles has seven sauces for its chicken tenders, Thorp said customers might find them unnecessary.

“You’re going to take that first bite and you’re not even going to need a sauce,” Thorp said. “When they talk about bringing in that Southern flavor, Bojangles is no joke.”

Christine Novakowski, 51, who lives a mile from the new location, arrived at 4:15 a.m. on opening day to be first in line. She discovered Bojangles during a solo trip to the Carolinas and had been waiting for the Wyoming opening.

After foregoing an annual trip East this past year, Novakowski was able to wait for the sought-after restaurant to come to her.

“The excitement is not because it’s new to me, it’s because I’ve missed it,” the early riser said. “It’s been about a year and a half that I’ve had it and I’m just — there’s no sweet tea and biscuits around like it.”

ANN ARBOR – The first meeting between Michigan and Michigan State’s hockey teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 turned out to be an all-time classic.

The top-ranked Wolverines scored twice in the third period to tie the game at three and won on a power-play goal from Jayden Perron in overtime. Their comeback victory gives them a three-point lead in the Big Ten over MSU entering Saturday’s annual “Duel in the D” matchup at Little Caesars Arena.

Special teams ended up winning the game for Michigan (23-4, 14-4). Its first power play came during three-on-three overtime, and it capitalized. Sophomore Michael Hage set up Perron for the one-timer, and it snuck past MSU goalie Trey Augustine short-side.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines, who have won seven straight, tied the game shorthanded. Adam Valenti was called for boarding at the 12:11 mark of the third, and Wolverines head coach Brandon Naurato was vehemently disagreeing with the referee about the call. His team responded. Senior forward Kienan Draper scored on a two-on-one rush, sending the sold-out crowd into a frenzy.

The drama didn’t end there. Prior to Draper’s goal, MSU (21-6, 12-5) drilled the post at the other end, and the Spartans challenged for a potential goal, which would have negated Draper’s. But the puck never crossed the goal line.

Earlier in the period, Michigan defenseman Asher Barnett joined the rush and beat Augustine to pull the Wolverines to within one with 9:33 remaining.  

Friday was the 350^th meeting between the two rivals, and the Spartans appeared to be on their way to a seventh straight victory of their own.

They scored twice in the final five minutes of the second period to take a 3-1 lead. Sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi broke the tie with a power move to the net and a quick shot into the top corner. The team followed with extended offensive zone time and scored again 2:37 later. Defenseman Owen West walked in from the point and wired wrist shot past goalie Stephen Peck with traffic in front.

The Wolverines weathered a slow start and tied the game at one with 2:56 remaining in the first period. T.J. Hughes won an offensive zone draw back to defenseman Drew Shock, whose shot was redirected by Nick Moldenhauer for his ninth goal of the season.

The first 15 minutes was controlled by MSU outside of one shift. All four of the Wolverines’ shots to that point came during a 52-second span when they hemmed in the Spartans in their own zone.

Otherwise, MSU generated the majority of chances and capitalized at the 15:14 mark. Senior Charlie Stramel, a first-round pick of the Wild, redirected a Porter Martone feed in front for his fourth goal in the past two games.   

Michigan is 6-3 in the Duel in the D, but MSU has won the past two. It is the final regular season matchup between the two programs.