CHAMPAIGN -- Illinois used the electric atmosphere inside Assembly Hall to its advantage early, but Michigan State, without guard Kalin Lucas, kept its composure and battled back as the Illini hold a 35-34 lead at halftime.
Illinois jumped out a 14-4 lead. But Michigan State was able to crawl back and tie the score at 16. Illinois built another seven-point lead, but the Spartans stayed close and pulled to within one on a buzzer-beating basket from Austin Thornton.
D.J. Richardson has nine points for Illinois, while the Spartans have distributed their scoring, with Chris Allen and Durrell Summers scoring six each.
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