Back to the Michigan State Spartans Newsfeed

Tyson Walker lights up Illinois but Michigan State basketball rally falls short, 79-74

EAST LANSING — Pick your poison, Tom Izzo.

Try and stop Kofi Cockburn and get beat outside. Slow down Jacob Grandison from the perimeter, get pounded in the paint by Cockburn.

Even with Tyson Walker coming to the rescue late.

Michigan State basketball found few answers to stopping either, coupled with continuing issues with preventing offensive rebounds and turning the ball over. And the 19th-ranked Spartans dropped their fourth in their past five games Saturday afternoon, as No. 12 Illinois completed the season sweep with a 79-74 win at Breslin Center.

Walker led a furious comeback in the final 14 minutes, helping MSU recover from a 16-point deficit with just over nine minutes to play.