EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Big Ten title chase is leaving Michigan State behind, though not without a fight.
And given what's ahead, Tom Izzo still has plenty of concerns after Illinois handed the Spartans their fourth loss in their last five games with a 79-74 defeat Saturday at the Breslin Center.
But the way this one ended, with Michigan State rallying from a 16-point deficit — led by a hot-shooting half from point guard Tyson Walker — to keep the outcome in doubt until the final minute, had to be encouraging just the same.
