Michigan State managed some surprises during its 81-61, Senior Night, Big Ten championship-clinching victory over Illinois, Tuesday at Breslin Center.

No one was surprised that No. 2-ranked Michigan State outscored the Illini 46-26 in the second half to pull away and cinch Tom Izzo’s eighth Big Ten championship, and MSU's first since 2012.

But the players didn’t know the conference championship trophy was in the house. They didn’t know a banner had been prepared, for raising to the rafters after the game. And seniors Gavin Schilling, TumTum Nairn and Ben Carter didn’t know they were going to be in the starting lineup, to commemorate Senior Night.

Izzo said sophomores Cassius Winston and Nick Ward came to the coach with the idea of starting the seniors. Izzo was probably planning to do it anyway, but waited for what he says is probably the most closely-knit team he as ever had to make the recommendation.

The three reserves started the game, “And it was 6-6 when they went out. So that wasn’t the problem," Izzo said.

Yes, there were problems - as there have been for many of MSU’s 15 Big Ten wins this year (against only two losses). But Michigan State (27-3) pulled away behind 19 points from Miles Bridges, who was 4-of-11 from the field and 4-of-7 from 3-point range.

Sophomore Joshua Langford scored 16 points to go with five assists. Langford was 3-of-4 from 3-point range.

Winston came off the bench for 12 points to go with five assists and no turnovers. He was an efficient 4-of-5 from the field, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range.

However, Winston played only 15 minutes due to foul trouble. He finished with three fouls, but sat for much of the first half and then picked up his third foul early in the second half and sat some more.

TIGHT (AGAIN) FOR AWHILE

Illinois had the game tied at 21-21 with 8:09 to play in the first half, and trailed just 38-35 at intermission.

“In the first half, we had seven turnovers and I think four were in the first few minutes,” Izzo said. “I was surprised. I think Tum was so excited, he was just going at a warp speed and I kind of think it hurt a little bit.”

Izzo said the closeness of Bridges, Langford and Nairn as off-the-court friends produced some tightness too.

“I thought the three guys that played the worst were those three guys,” Izzo said. “They are tighter than thieves. I think there were weird feeling going on with that.”

Feelings that this is the last time they play together at Breslin, with Nairn having finished his four years of eligibility (and on the verge of a degree in communications).

As for Bridges, he was asked in the locker room after the game if he believes this is his last game in a Spartan uniform at Breslin. Wearing a Big Ten Championship ballcap, he said he hasn’t thought that far ahead yet. At this time last year, everyone assumed he would be one-and-done, and headed to the NBA. But he surprised the college basketball world by announcing last spring that he would return for his sophomore year.

Now, most are fairly certain that two years at MSU, and a final year with Tum, will be his limit in green and white. Meanwhile, it was clear that this moment, with these guys, meant a lot to him.

“This is one of the things I came back here to do,” Bridges said. “And like we said after the game out there on the court to all the fans, we’re not done yet.”

When Bridges attempted a pair of free throws late in the game, Michigan State fans serenaded him with a request.

“When they were chanting, ‘One more year,’” Izzo said, “I was thinking to myself: Thank God for this year.”

The Spartans set a record for the most regular season wins in school history, with this victory. They have a chance to win an outright Big Ten title at Wisconsin on Sunday.

“Big Ten titles, especially in this day and age with the different schedules and who you play, it’s been kind of crazy on how to win a Big Ten championship,” Izzo said. “I just hope we look at it like we have other things to accomplish. I would like to win it outright and then really compete in that Big Ten Tournament.

“Banners are what we like to do here but it’s one of those years when we’re not satisfied with that one.”