1/14 - MBB: Michigan State outlasts Illini
Updated: January 7, 2009
EAST LANSING, MI -- In a game of two very different halves of basketball, Michigan State saved its best for the second half, coming from eleven points down at the break to beat Illinois, 63-57.
Drew Neitzel, who scored 19 points to lead the Spartans, hit a key basket inside of a minute remaining to put the game on ice.
Illinois led 34-23 at halftime, but gave up 15 unanswered points in the second half, as MSU built a 51-39 lead with 7:34 to go.
The Illini battled back to within three with two minutes to go after Chester Frazier stole the basketball and converted a layup. But Neitzel`s jumper crushed the comeback attempt.
Rich McBride led the Illini scorers with 12 points on four three-pointers. Warren Carter added 11 points while Shaun Pruitt chipped in with 10.
The Illini fall to 13-6, 1-3.
