Michigan State University
Illinois
Michigan State Withstands Late Illinois Comeback 60-53
2/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Travis Trice scored 18 points off the bench, including a pair of late free throws, to help Michigan State seal a win over Illinois Sunday night, 60-53.
Michigan State (19-8, 10-4 Big Ten) ran its winning streak to four games in a physical, sometimes chippy road victory.
The Spartans led by as many as 11 with less than five minutes to play. But Illinois (17-10, 7-7) closed to within three points and with 39 seconds to play had a chance to tie, but Kendrick Nunn missed a 3-pointer.
Trice brought down the rebound, drew a foul and hit the free throws.
Denzel Valentine led Michigan State with 20 points and nine rebounds. Branden Dawson added 13 points and seven boards.
Malcolm Hill led Illinois with 17 points and Rayvonte Rice added 15. The Illini have lost two straight.
With the NCAA Tournament just a few weeks away, Spartan coach Tom Izzo spent much of his postgame news conference lobbying for the Big Ten. ''I'm getting a little tired of hearing in the (TV) networks about the Big Ten. That was a tournament game,'' he said. ''Our league is good. ... I don't think the perception's as good as it needs to be or should be.''
Michigan State plays Minnesota at home Thursday night.
