Mel Tucker praises Michigan State's defense in first half vs. Illinois, wants more from offense in second half

Michigan State went to the halftime locker room in Champagne with a 9-7 lead over No. 16 Illinois after stymying the Illini run game and marching for a touchdown drive in the second quarter — the extra point was blocked. Head coach Mel Tucker had high praise for his defense in executing the game plan to slow down Illinois and wants to see a bit more from the Spartans offense in the second half.

It’s just the second time Illinois has trailed at the half this season and has been one of the best defensive efforts from Michigan State, despite missing a bevy of players due to injury and eight from suspensions stemming from the incident in the Michigan Stadium tunnel. Tucker said on the Big Ten Network broadcast that he knew this group could hold up.

“Playing hard. We felt like we’d be able to get some stops if we set the edge, build a wall in the run game. We’re doing that,” Tucker said. “And we’re getting them into some third and longs and getting off the field.”

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MSU overcame an early Payton Thorne interception to hold serve at zeroes with Illinois, and was eventually the beneficiary of a Xavier Henderson forced fumble.

Illinois has 86 first-half rushing yards, with running back Chase Brown taking 18 carries for 74 of them.

The Spartans have held up so far, but will probably need some more points from the offense in the second frame.

Thorne’s touchdown pass to Tre Mosley made the difference at the half for MSU, and Tucker thinks fellow receivers Keon Coleman and Jayden Reed can make some plays one-on-one and get the rest of the offense turning.

“Just execute. Just execute, take care of the football,” Tucker said. “It’s going to be a four quarter game. We know that we can win some one-on-ones and get some room in the run game, as well. So we just gotta execute the game plan.”