National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Illinois 53, Michigan St 46
When: 4:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 1, 2014
Where: Jack Breslin Student Events Center, East Lansing, Michigan
Officials: # D.J. Carstensen, # Pat Driscoll, # Michael Kitts
Attendance: 14797

Illinois 53, No. 18 Michigan State 46: Tracy Abrams scored 12 points as the Illini stunned the host Spartans with their third straight victory.

Rayvonte Rice and and Malcolm Hill added 10 points apiece as Illinois (17-12, 6-10 Big Ten) won its third straight game and snapped a six-game losing streak in East Lansing. Freshman Kendrick Nunn recorded eight points, six rebounds and four assists, while Abrams and Rice had five steals apiece as the Illini finished with a season-high 14.

Gary Harris scored 19 points for Michigan State (22-7, 11-5), which failed in its first bid to clinch a first-round bye in the Big Ten tournament while losing consecutive games for the first time this season. Branden Dawson returned after missing the last nine contests with a broken hand and recorded six points and seven rebounds.

Michigan State trailed 21-9 before rallying to forge a 28-28 tie at the break as Harris scored eight of his 11 first-half points during the burst. The Spartans took their first lead on Gavin Schilling's bucket 10 seconds into the second half, but the Illini responded with a 9-0 run - capped by Hill's 3-pointer.

Michigan State got as close as 42-39 on Harris' 3-pointer with 9:54 left, but Illinois extended the lead to 47-39 on Rice's jumper with 7:59 to go and 52-43 after Abrams' bucket with 2:58 to play. Harris' 3-pointer made it 52-46 with 1:44 left and the Spartans let the clock run out after Denzel Valentine missed a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Michigan State fielded a complete lineup for the first time since Jan. 4. ... Illinois has held its last four opponents to less than 50 points. ... The loss by the second-place Spartans clinched the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament and at least a share of the regular-season title for Michigan.
Top Game Performances
 
Illinois   Michigan St
Tracy Abrams 12 Scoring Gary Harris 19
Tracy Abrams 4 Assists Keith Appling 4
Kendrick Nunn 6 Rebounds Branden Dawson 7
Tracy Abrams 2 Free Throws Made Branden Dawson 2
Tracy Abrams 5 Steals Gary Harris 4
Nnanna Egwu 3 Blocks Matt Costello 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Illinois 53 47.7 8-18 3-7 12 26 4 14 15
Michigan St 46 39.1 6-18 4-11 12 33 3 8 16