CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Michigan State basketball never found its outside shooting touch and struggled with foul calls all night.
Yet the Spartans scrapped and clawed deep into the second half before a ferocious Illinois comeback ended their seven-game win streak, 75-66, on Friday night at State Farm Center.
After MSU took a nine-point lead with 14:13 to play, the Illini rallied following a technical foul on coach Brad Underwood for an 18-4 run to go up 59-54 with 7:28 to play. The Spartans tied it at 60-all, but Illinois’ Coleman Hawkins drained a 3-pointer and Dain Dainja put back another bucket.