Champaign, Ill. — Michigan State played one of its best games of the season in Friday’s victory at Wisconsin.
Four days later, it took the Spartans the better part of two halves before they came anything close. However, even a late flurry couldn’t save No. 10 Michigan State, which couldn’t overcome a miserable shooting night in a 56-55 loss to No. 24 Illinois at the State Farm Center.
Malik Hall had a chance to tie the game with two free throws with 0.2 seconds to play, but he missed the first, essentially ending the game as Hall made the second while trying to miss.