CHAMPAIGN — Marcus Domask scored 15 points, including four free throws in the closing minutes that helped No. 10 Illinois hold off Michigan State 71-68 on Thursday night.
Coleman Hawkins and Ty Rodgers also scored 15 points apiece for the Illini (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten), who bounced back after a close loss at then-No. 1 Purdue last Friday.
Tyson Walker scored 17 points and A.J. Hoggard added 16 for the Spartans (9-7, 1-4), who fell into a last-place tie with Michigan in the conference standings.
Michigan State got within one point three times in the final two minutes, the last time on Walker’s layup that cut Illinois’ lead to 69-68 with 35 seconds left.
Domask was fouled and sank both free throws. Walker and Hoggard each missed three-pointers that would have tied it in the final 15 seconds.
“That’s what you expect a Michigan State game to look like,” said Illinois coach Brad Underwood. “It wasn’t pretty.”
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said the Spartans lost to a “damn good team.”
“I know people are going to give up on us and I don’t blame them,” he said. “But I know what this team can do. We’re going to win some games.”
Michigan State led 48-42 with 13:22 remaining, but Illinois responded with a 10-2 run. A layup by Walker tied the game at 52-all before Illinois went on a 7-0 burst, capped by a three-pointer from Hawkins. The Illini led the rest of the game.
Illinois led 37-34 at halftime. The Spartans missed nine of their first 10 shots and fell behind by 10 points, but rallied to climb within 35-34 on a three-pointer by Walker.
Illinois improved to 3-1 without star Terrance Shannon Jr., who has been suspended by the university because he’s facing a rape charge in Lawrence, Kansas.
Shannon is seeking a temporary restraining order in U.S. District Court in Springfield that would force the university to reinstate him. His case was scheduled to be heard on Friday.
His arraignment on the rape charge is scheduled for Jan. 18. A trial isn’t expected to begin until June.
Hawkins said the team is trying to ignore the outside noise caused by Shannon’s legal issues.
“Our days are the same. We have the same routine,” he said.
BIG PICTURE
Michigan State: Coach Tom Izzo said he was embarrassed and that he was responsible for not getting his team ready after the Spartans’ 88-74 loss at Northwestern on Sunday. The Spartans responded with a more spirited and physical effort against the Illini.
Illinois: Domask, Hawkins, Quincy Guerrier and Luke Goode have picked up the slack since Shannon was suspended, and it was Rodgers’ turn Thursday. He scored 12 points in the first half.
