Another bad first half for Michigan State has cost the Spartans a key Big Ten conference game against the Illinois Fighting Illini, 56-55. The Spartans trailed by as much as 15 in the game but found a way to battle all the way back to make it a close game. A foul with 0.2 seconds left on the clock put Malik Hall on the line for 2 shots with score at 56-54 in favor of Illinois. Hall missed the first, and while trying to miss the second for a tip-in, made the second.
The Spartans went into halftime down 34-20 after a half that consisted of 9 turnovers and very little defense.
The Spartans slowly clawed their way back in the game throughout the second half. Chunking away at the lead before a 6-0 run inside the final four minutes had MSU down just 56-54, the first time. A time out was called by MSU which had them running a simple set, ending with a missed elbow jumper by Tyson Walker.
